Nominations & Terms of Reference

HONOURED MEMBERS – CANADIAN PLAYERS

The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame honours Canadian Players that have played the game with excellence at the international and club level. To be eligible, a player must have played professional, semi-professional, major amateur, and/or international football for a minimum of 10 years, unless special exception is granted by Canada Soccer’s General Secretary.

Players must not have played for any other Member Association national soccer team, at any level, unless a change of Association, in accordance with FIFA Statutes, to Canada Soccer was granted. From the years in which Canada did not play international football, the player must be a Canadian citizen and/or hold a Canadian passport.

NOMINATION LIST OF MODERN CANADIAN PLAYERS

To be eligible for the Nomination List of Modern Canadian Players, a player must have been previously active for at least one season the past 15 years and retired from competitive football (all competitions, club and country) for at least five years. A player can only be eligible for the nomination list of Modern Canadian Players for a maximum of 10 years (from five years after retirement until 15 years after retirement).

To be nominated, a player must be in good standing with the Canadian Soccer Association and must have either:
• Played 10 or more seasons of football at the professional and/or international level and participated in at least two cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with at least one official international “A” match played in each of those four-year cycles (FIFA World Cup, Concacaf Gold Cup, Olympic Football Tournament)
• OR have been inducted into a provincial sport or provincial soccer Hall of Fame

Under these guidelines, to be eligible for the Nomination List of Modern Canadian Players in 2025, a player must have been previously active for at least one season between 2011 and 2020 and retired from competitive football (all competitions, club and country) for at least five years (they were not active as a player in 2021).

The Nomination List for Modern Canadian Players will be confirmed in the first week of each calendar year. For a player to remain on the Nomination List of Modern Canadian Players, that player must receive at least one vote every two years. Any player that does not receive any votes in three successive voting years will be dropped from the nomination list. The final Nomination List is ratified by the Canada Soccer General Secretary each year.

NEXT NOMINATION LIST – MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM:
• David Edgar – 1x top-3 finalist for Canadian Player of the Year, 2x CPL Championship, seventh Canadian in England’s Premier League
• Ali Gerba –Concacaf Semifinalist, 2x Canada goals leader, 1x top-3 finalist for Canadian Player of the Year
• Lars Hirschfeld – Concacaf Semifinalist, 2002 Gold Cup Best Goalkeeper, titles in Canada, Romania and Norway
• Iain Hume – Concacaf Semifinalist, 1x Canada FWCQ goals leader, Indian Super League Championship
• Daniel Imhof – Concacaf Semifinalist, one FIFA Confederations Cup, Swiss Nationalliga winner
• Ante Jazic – Concacaf Semifinalist, Croatian Cup winner, UEFA Cup participant
• Will Johnson – 1x Canadian Player of the Year, Canadian Championship and MLS Cup winner
• Mike Klukowski – Concacaf Gold Cup all-star, titles in Belgium and Cyprus
• Josh Simpson – 1x Canada leader in minutes played, UEFA Cup participant
• Adam Straith – 1x Canada leader in minutes played
• Greg Sutton – Concacaf Semifinalist, 1x A-League MVP and 4x Goalkeeper of the Year, A-League Championship winner

NEXT NOMINATION LIST – WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM:
• Josée Bélanger – Concacaf champion, Olympic Bronze Medal, Sweden Damallsvenskan winner
• Melanie Booth – Olympic Bronze Medal, Pan American Games Gold Medal, Canada Games winner
• Kaylyn Kyle – Concacaf champion, Olympic Bronze Medal, Pan American Games Gold Medal
• Diana Matheson – Concacaf champion, 2x Olympic Bronze Medal, Pan American Games Gold Medal, Norway Toppserien winner
• Marie-Eve Nault – Concacaf champion, Olympic Bronze Medal
• Kelly Parker – Olympic Bronze Medal, Pan American Games Gold Medal, WPS winner, W-League winner, 2x W-League MVP
• Emily Zurrer – Concacaf champion, Olympic Bronze Medal

The following retired players may be eligible for the Nomination List of Modern Canadian Players in future years. Players not selected for induction in 2025 may again be eligible on the Nomination List in 2026 and subsequent lists as outlined above. The Nomination List for Modern Canadian Players (with their year of eligibility) will be published on Canada Soccer Hall of Fame’s digital properties each year.

New to the Nomination List in 2026 (last match in 2021, did not play in 2022)
Nouveaux à la liste de nomination en 2026 (dernier match en 2021, n’ont pas joué en 2022):
• Julian de Guzman
• André Hainault
• Nik Ledgerwood
New to the Nomination List in 2027 (last match in 2022, did not play in 2023)
Nouveaux à la liste de nomination en 2027 (dernier match en 2022, n’ont pas joué en 2023):
• Stephanie Labbé
• Tosaint Ricketts
New to the Nomination List in 2028 (last match in 2023, did not play in 2024)
Nouveaux à la liste de nomination en 2028 (dernier match en 2023, n’ont pas joué en 2024):
• Atiba Hutchinson
• Ashtone Morgan
• Issey Nakajima-Farran
• Dr. Melissa Tancredi
• Russell Teibert

Beyond 2023, Canadian Para Soccer players who have participated at the international level may also be considered for nomination, so long as they competed at the international level for a minimum of 10 years and that they have been retired for a minimum of five years.

VOTING FOR MODERN CANADIAN PLAYERS

The Voting Group for Modern Canadian Players will consist of 15-23 voters. With the exception of honoured members of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame and the Chair of the Hall of Fame committee, any person currently or recently appointed to another Canada Soccer committee within the last three years is not eligible to vote on Modern Canadian Players.

The Voting Group will include
• 1 Chair of the Hall of Fame Committee
• 4-6 alumni Men’s National Team
• 4-6 alumni Women’s National Team
• 2 retired International Referees (one male, one female)
• 1 active Men’s National Team (1 non-Technical)
• 1 active Women’s National Team (1 non-Technical)
• 6 media (mix, all from different outlets including news agency and TV/radio)

From each year’s nomination list, an eligible voter can select up to three male players and up to three female players.

Male Footballers
• 5 points for 1st place vote (male footballers)
• 3 points for 2nd place vote (male footballers)
• 1 point for 3rd place vote (male footballers)
Female Footballers 
• 5 points for 1st place vote (female footballers)
• 3 points for 2nd place vote (female footballers)
• 1 point for 3rd place vote (female footballers)
Each blank or non-vote will be counted against the overall totals (five points, three points, one point)

PAST CANADIAN PLAYERS

Players that are no longer eligible for the nomination list of Modern Canadian Players may be considered as Past Canadian Players at least 25 years after their retirement (which is at least 10 years after they were last eligible for the nomination list of Modern Canadian Players). The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame may produce a candidates list of Past Canadian Players every few years, but mostly on special occasions and not necessarily on an annual basis.

In future years, the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame will continue to consider retired Canadian players no longer eligible as Modern Canadian Players, notably those from an older era from well before the Hall of Fame was established. On a two-year cycle: candidates from the 1980s and 1990s; candidates from the 1960s through 1970s; candidates from the pre-WW2 era, notably those that starred in Canada’s major leagues, will be considered for induction.


NEXT NOMINATION LIST : #CANMNT

DAVID EDGAR

Represented Canada in three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, two editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup and one edition of Concacaf Nations League Qualifying… finished as high as third in voting as a nominee for Canadian Player of the Year honours… career 42 international “A” appearances from 2011 to 2018 primarily as a centre back, including five starts as Canada captain… club career in Canada, England, USA and Wales, including appearances in Concacaf Champions League and Concacaf League… led Forge FC Hamilton to back-to-back Canadian Premier League North Star Shield championships (2019, 2020)… he was the seventh Canadian to feature in England’s Premier League… one-time Canadian U-20 Player of the Year… first Canadian at three FIFA U-20 World Cups, including UAE 2003 when Canada reached the Quarterfinals.

ALI GERBA

Semi-final finish with Canada at the 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup… in all, four editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup… set Canada record with six career Concacaf Gold Cup goals (since tied)… one cycle of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… twice led Canada in goals scored (2008 and 2009)… career 31 international “A” appearances from 2005 to 2011 as a forward (he scored 15 goals and two assists)… Canada Soccer Centennial Top 100 Male Footballers… club career in Canada, USA, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and England, including appearances in Concacaf Champions League… three-time Québec Soccer Professional Player of the Year… runner-up at U-19 Cup with Riviere Des Prairies in 1998.

LARS HIRSCHFELD

Best Goalkeeper at the 2002 Concacaf Gold Cup as Canada finished in third place… in all, five editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup… three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… career 48 international “A” appearances from 1999 to 2015 (17 clean sheets)… retired as Canada’s all-time goals leader… Canada Soccer Centennial Top 100 Male Footballers… club career in Canada, Germany, England, Scotland, Norway, and Romania, including appearances UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League…. posted eight clean sheets across UEFA club competitions, the most by a Canadian goalkeeper… Romanian Liga 1 winner and two-time Romanian Cup winner with CFR Cluj… Norwegian Eliteserien winner with Rosenborg BK… as a teenager, Challenge Trophy winner with Edmonton Ital Canadians SC at the 1997 National Championships… fourth-place at the Pan American Games Winnipeg 1999… bronze medal with Alberta at the 1997 Canada Games.

IAIN HUME

Represented Canada at three editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup and three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… career 43 international “A” appearances from 2003 to 2016 (six goals and four assists)… Canada’s joint top goalscorer across FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2011 and 2012club career in Canada, England, India and Spain… Best Player of the Indian Super League (2014)… two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup participant (2001 and 2003) and one-time tournament All-Star (2003).

DANIEL IMHOF

FIFA Confederations Cup with Canada at Korea/Japan 2001… two editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup, including a third-place finish in 2002… three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… career 36 international “A” appearances from 2000 to 2010 as midfielder… club career in Canada, Switzerland and Germany, including appearances in UEFA Cup and Champions League Qualifiers… Swiss Challenge League winner in 2011-12… German 2.Bundesliga winner with VfL Bochum in 2005-06… Swiss Nationalliga A winner with FC St-Gallen in 1999-2000… fourth-place finish at the Pan American Games Winnipeg 1999… silver medal with British Columbia at the 1997 Canada Games… CIAU Championship winner with the University of Victoria in 1996 (U-Sports).

ANTE JAZIC

Semi-final finish at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup… three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… holds distinction as oldest Canadian outfield player to feature in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… career 35 international “A” appearances from 1998 to 2012 as a fullback… Canada Soccer Centennial Top 100 Male Footballers… club career in Canada, Croatia, Austria, Russia, and USA, including appearances in UEFA Cup and CONCACAF SuperLiga… Croatian Cup winner (Hrvatski kup) with Hajduk Split in 2000… as a teenager, silver and bronze medals with Halifax King of Donair in Canada Soccer’s National Championships… CIAU Championship winner with Dalhousie University in 1995 (U-Sports)… bronze medal with Nova Scotia at the 1993 Canada Games.

WILL JOHNSON

Canadian Player of the Year in 2013.. three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and four editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup… career 45 international “A” appearances across 15 years from 2005 to 2019… club career in England, USA, Netherlands and Canada, including appearances in Concacaf Champions League… two-time MLS Cup winner and one-time Canadian Championship winner… Concacaf Champions League runner up in 2010-11… MLS Best XI in 2013… two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup participant.

MIKE KLUKOWSKI

Concacaf Gold Cup all-star team in 2009… two editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup, including a quarter-final finish in 2009… three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… career 36 international “A” appearances from 2003 to 2012 as a fullback and midfielder… club career in Canada, France, Belgium, Turkey and Cyprus, including appearances in UEFA Cup, Europa League and Champions League Qualifiers… Championnat de Belgique winner in 2004-05… Coupe de Belgique winner in 2003 and 2007… Cypriot First Division winner in 2012-13… FIFA U-20 World Cup participant at Argentina 2001.

JOSH SIMPSON

Three editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup and two cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… career 43 international “A” appearances from 2004 to 2012… one-time Canada leader in international minutes played (2011)… club career in Canada, USA, England, Germany, Turkey and Switzerland, including appearances in UEFA Cup… one-time BC Soccer Adult Player of the Year (2004)… Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia.

ADAM STRAITH

Represented Canada in two cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and three editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup… reached Concacaf Quarterfinals in 2017… led Canada in minutes played in 2015… career 43 international “A” appearances across 10 years from 2010 to 2019, including one start as Canada’s captain… club career in Canada, Germany, Norway and Scotland.

GREG SUTTON

Three editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup, including a semi-final finish in 2007 and quarter-final finish in 2009… two cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers… career 16 international “A” appearances from 2004 to 2009 as goalkeeper… club career in Canada and USA… helped Toronto FC win the 2009 Canadian Championship… one-time A-League Most Valuable Player (2004) and four-time A-League / USL-1 Goalkeeper of the Year… A-League Championship winner with Impact de Montréal in 2004… Impact Wall of Fame.

NEXT NOMINATION LIST : CANWNT

JOSÉE BÉLANGER

CONCACAF champion in 2010 and Olympic Games bronze medal winner at Rio 2016… FIFA Women’s World Cup at Canada 2015… two CONCACAF medals (gold and silver)… runner up in Player of the Year voting in 2015… career 57 international “A” appearances from 2004 to 2017 as a forward and fullback (seven goals and eight assists)… club career in Canada, Sweden and USA, including appearances in UEFA Champions League… Sweden Damallsvenskan winner with FC Rosengård in 2015… FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship at Thailand 2004… CONCACAF youth champion in 2004… two-time Québec Soccer Professional Player of the Year and two-time Senior Player of the Year… Sports Québec Team Sport Athlete of the Year in 2016-17.

MELANIE BOOTH

Olympic bronze medal winner with Canada at London 2012… FIFA Women’s World Cup at China 2007… four CONCACAF silver medals… Pan American Games bronze (2007) and gold (2011) medals… career 65 international “A” appearances from 2002 to 2013 as a fullback (she scored one goal and four assists)… club career in Canada and USA… reached the 2010 USL W-League final with Vancouver Whitecaps… silver medal at the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship… Canada Games winner with Ontario in 2001… U-18 Cup winner with Burlington Flames in 2002… U-15 Cup winner with Burlington in 1999… honoured member of the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame.

KAYLYN KYLE

CONCACAF champion in 2010 and Olympic Games bronze medal winner at London 2012… in all, two FIFA Women’s World Cups and one Olympic Football Tournament… two CONCACAF medals (gold and silver)… Pan American Games winner in 2011… career 101 international “A” appearances from 2008 to 2015… streak of 62 consecutive matches for Canada, at the time second longest ever… club career in Canada, Sweden and USA… reached the USL W-League final with Vancouver Whitecaps in 2010… two FIFA U-20 World Cups (2006, 2008)… CONCACAF youth champion in 2008… three-time Saskatchewan Soccer Senior Female Player of the Year and one-time SaskSport Athlete of the Year… honoured member of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.

DIANA MATHESON

Concacaf champion (2010) and two-time Olympic Games bronze medal winner (2012 and 2016)… fourth-place finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003… in all, four FIFA Women’s World Cups and three FIFA Olympic Tournaments… six medals from six Concacaf tournaments (one gold, four silver, one bronze)… two Pan American Games medals (bronze 2007 and gold 2011)… three times runner up in voting for Canadian Player of the Year honours (2010, 2012, 2013)… career 206 international “A” appearances from 2003 to 2020 (19 goals and 25 assists)… retired ranked second in Canada matches, starts, minutes played, and assists… Canada Soccer Centennial Top 30 Female Footballers and voted to the All-Time Canada XI… club career in Canada, USA, and Norway… Norwegian Toppserien winner with LSK Kvinner Fotballklubb in 2012… reached the Norway Cup Final in 2009… reached NWSL Cup Final in 2016… Canada Soccer National Championships winner in 2002… Canada Games winner in 2001.

MARIE-EVE NAULT

CONCACAF champion in 2010 and Olympic Games bronze medal winner at London 2012… two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2011, 2015)… three medals from three CONCACAF tournaments (gold, silver, bronze)… career 71 international “A” appearances from 2004 to 2017, including her last match started as captain… club career in Canada, France, USA, and Sweden… reached the USL W-League final in 2006 and 2008… USL W-League All-League Team defender in 2008… Top Scorer of the CCAA Championship in 1999… national bronze medal at the U-17 Cup with CS Francheville in 1998… Québec Soccer Professional Player of the Year in 2014.

KELLY PARKER

Olympic Games bronze medal winner at London 2012… FIFA Women’s World Cup participant at Germany 2011…. one Concacaf silver medal and one Pan American Games gold medal… career 40 international “A” appearances from 2001 to 2012… club career in Canada, USA and Germany… WPS winner in 2009 and USL W-League winner in 2010… two-time W-League Most Valuable Player and one-time W-League scoring champion… honoured member of the University of Texas El Paso Hall of Fame and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.

EMILY ZURRER

CONCACAF champion in 2010 and Olympic Games bronze medal winner at London 2012… in all, two FIFA Women’s World Cups and two Olympic Football Tournaments… career 82 international “A” appearances from 2004 to 2015… club career in Canada, USA, Germany, and Sweden… reached the USL W-League final with Vancouver Whitecaps in 2010… Big Ten Medal of Honor in Soccer at the University of Illinois in 2009… two FIFA U-20 World Cups (2004 and 2006)… CONCACAF youth champion and tournament MVP in 2004… honoured member of the North Cowichan-Duncan Sports Wall of Fame and the Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia.

FUTURE ELIGIBLES: 2026

JULIAN DE GUZMAN
ANDRÉ HAINAULT
NIK LEDGERWOOD

FUTURE ELIGIBLES: 2027

STEPHANIE LABBÉ
TOSAINT RICKETTS

FUTURE ELIGIBLES: 2028

ATIBA HUTCHINSON
ASHTONE MORGAN
ISSEY NAKAJIMA-FARRAN
DR. MELISSA TANCREDI
RUSSELL TEIBERT


HONOURED MEMBERS – BUILDERS, COACHES, REFEREES

The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame honoured Builders, Coaches and Referees that have served soccer with distinction over an extended period.

NOMINATIONS FOR BUILDERS, COACHES, REFEREES

To be eligible, a Builder, Coach, or Referee must not be holding office in the game at an international, national, or provincial post for the past five years. The Builder, Coach, or Referee must be in good standing with the Canadian Soccer Association and must not have been part of any Canada Soccer Hall of Fame committee for the past three years. The Builder, Coach, or Referee must not have brought the game into disrepute during or after his/her career.

Nominations Nominations for Builders, Coaches, and Referees can be made by Canada Soccer and its Member Associations. To be nominated, a person must be in good standing with Canada Soccer and the nominating Member Association. From the list of nominations, the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame Operational Committee will establish a final nomination list of 6-15 persons in the first month of each calendar year. The final nomination list is ratified by the Canada Soccer General Secretary each year.

For a Builder, Coach, or Referee to remain on the nomination list, that person must receive at least one vote every two voting years. Any person that does not receive any votes in three successive voting years will be dropped from the nomination list. If dropped, the nominated person cannot reappear on the ballot for at least the next two voting years.

VOTING FOR BUILDERS, COACHES, REFEREES

A separate Voting Group for Builders, Coaches, and Referees may include 8-12 persons. Starting in 2019, this Voting Panel will meet via conference call to review nominations in March and then cast their votes in early April.

From each year’s nomination list, an eligible voter can select up to three persons. From the collected votes, only one Builder, Coach, or Referee will be selected for induction, unless recommended and approved by the Canada Soccer General Secretary in advance of the voting period.

Builders, Coaches, Referees
• 5 points for 1st place vote
• 3 points for 2nd place vote
• 1 point for 3rd place vote
Each blank or non-vote will be counted against the overall totals (five points, three points, one point)

After the vote, the selected person(s) is(are) presented to the Canada Soccer General Secretary for ratification.