An Update to the Canadian Soccer Community: Progress and the Path Ahead

Dear Canadian Soccer Community,  

As we approach a critical stretch of preparation before FIFA World Cup 26™, we are entering a defining moment for soccer across Canada.  With less than a year to go, Canada Soccer is focused on ensuring that this once-in-a-generation opportunity delivers lasting benefits for our sport, our communities, and our country.    

As we’ve done in the past, we are writing to keep you informed about the important work underway and to share with you what lies ahead.  

Maximizing the Moment: Club+ and Grassroots Growth 

A successful FIFA World Cup™ in 2026 will be more than a global spectacle and a thrilling experience for Canadian fans. The world’s biggest sporting event is being co-hosted in Canada and will serve as a catalyst for transformation and growth of soccer in our country.

Soccer is already the most played team sport by Canadian youth and is characterized by its accessibility and diverse participant base which reflects the Canadian mosaic. With the unprecedented attention on soccer created by the FIFA World Cup™, clubs across Canada can expect to see even more interest from families and individuals who are exploring the sport for the first time or looking to deepen their participation. To support this surge, we are excited to have recently launched Club+, a multi-year initiative designed to equip clubs with the tools, resources, and marketing assets they need to grow, engage their communities, and convert FIFA World Cup 26™ momentum into lasting grassroots participation. This program reflects our belief that the legacy of 2026 must extend far beyond the final whistle – into the everyday experiences of players, coaches, referees, and volunteers across the country.   

Building Toward 2026: Men’s National Team and Competitive Readiness 

A strong and inspiring performance by our Men’s National Team on home soil has the potential to elevate soccer’s place in Canadian culture and media and attract new partners to invest in our sport. If (and when!) we achieve FIFA World Cup™ success on the pitch that is compelling to millions of Canadians, a new benchmark for the commercial value of soccer in Canada will be established and long-term momentum for investment at all levels of the game will be created. While the recent Concacaf Gold Cup result was disappointing, our team is on a positive trajectory and recently reached an all-time high FIFA ranking of 28^th.  

To prepare for the competitive level of teams expected at the FIFA World Cup™, we have scheduled games against top-tier opponents, including No. 48 Romania, No. 31 Wales, No. 24 Australia, and No. 14 Colombia in the next four matches. This strategy will continue through the remaining FIFA windows, with an increasing number of friendlies to be hosted in Canada as the FIFA World Cup™ gets closer to build both momentum and national pride. We are employing this strategy for the Women’s National Team as well, so they are best prepared for qualifying and to make a deep run in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 2027. 

FIFA World Cup™ Ticketing  

We know many of you are eager for updates on FIFA World Cup™ ticketing. FIFA is responsible for selling tickets to FIFA World Cup 26™, and we are expecting further details from them soon. We will be sure to share these updates as they are available. As a Participating Member Association, FIFA provides Canada Soccer with access to a modest allotment of tickets – approximately 8% of the purchasable ticket inventory in the venue – for each match in which Canada is playing. These tickets are intended by FIFA to be made available for key Canada Soccer constituent groups (e.g., player families) and allocated for purchase by Federation affiliates and supporters.  

As communicated earlier this year, Canada Soccer will make tickets from its allotment available to members and donors to the CanadaRED supporter program. An equal number of tickets will be available at each CanadaRED tier, including the free tiers. Various accommodations will be provided to groups such as registered players, coaches, and referees, with additional consideration given to Voyageurs, national team alumni, and Hall of Fame members. Those who are unsuccessful in the lottery at higher tiers will also be eligible for lower tiers. The structure of CanadaRED is consistent with the program that is operated by the United States Soccer Federation and similar to the fan packages program being operated by Football Australia. Please sign up here for more information and to be notified when registration for the updated CanadaRED tiers is available shortly. 

Financial Sustainability and Reinvestment in Canadian Soccer 

As we prepare for the future, we are also making strategic decisions to ensure Canada Soccer’s long-term financial health and ability to invest in the growth of Canadian soccer. New revenue streams, including the Canada Soccer Foundation and the CanadaRED supporter program, are designed to generate substantial additional revenue that is directly reinvested into the game.  

These growing revenue streams will be dedicated to empowering our National Team systems with world-class resources, advancing the depth and excellence of coaching in Canada, and reducing costs for families in club soccer – helping to build a stronger, more sustainable soccer landscape for generations to come. Together, we are building Canada into a global football contender where every player has the chance to achieve their dreams, every coach is empowered to lead, and every fan is inspired by our national teams’ success.  

Strengthening Our Organization

Finally, this period of intense activity and progress also invites reflection. It has now been one year since the regrettable incident involving a drone at the Paris Olympics. In that time, we have taken meaningful steps to strengthen oversight, accountability, and integrity across our organization.  

These include: 

• Annual compliance training on our strengthened Code of Conduct and Ethics. 
• Mandatory ethics and reporting clauses in all contracts. 
• A new third-party platform for confidential reporting. 
• Specialized training for staff to work with coaches in a compliance-focused manner. 
• Membership approved bylaw reforms, which included strengthened independent oversight of compliance.  

For transparency, the updated bylaws are publicly available on the Canada Soccer website.  

Looking Ahead with Purpose 

This is a moment of exceptional opportunity and responsibility for Canadian soccer. FIFA World Cup 26™ represents far more than a global tournament — it is a pivotal milestone in the evolution of our sport nationwide. 

We are energized by the important work ahead and the transformative potential this event holds. Our commitment is clear: to ensure that soccer in Canada benefits from this moment in every possible way. Across the organization, our staff, coaches, and players are working with focus and determination to turn this opportunity into lasting progress for the game at all levels. 

Thank you for your continued support, passion, and belief in what we can achieve together. We have a once-in-a-generation building opportunity to create a unified and aspirational foundation for soccer in our country. Let’s build a future filled with passion, pride, and possibility. 

Go Canada!  

Sincerely,