Canada Soccer Update
This past weekend, Canada Soccer concluded a meeting of its Board of Directors. We’re pleased to share updates about ongoing business and organizational priorities.
With our Men’s National Team achieving its highest-ever FIFA ranking, anticipation for next summer’s World Cup continues to build. As we prepare for this tremendous occasion, we pause to reflect on the journey that brought us here, and thank the many leaders, staff, and volunteers whose dedication helped secure Canada’s role as co-host.
In particular, we recognize previous Canada Soccer leaders Victor Montagliani and Peter Montopoli for their vision, initiative, and ambition to bring the world’s biggest sporting event to Canadian soil. Their efforts, and the work of other contributors across country, created the opportunity for Canada to be showcased on a global stage. Victor and Peter are now key leaders at FIFA and remain instrumental in delivering an unforgettable World Cup for Canada.
As the current leaders of Canada Soccer, we carry a sense of responsibility to ensure that the growth of Canadian soccer accelerates even faster because of the World Cup being played here. As part of the World Cup legacy, we are developing an initial feasibility assessment for a National Training Centre – a potential cornerstone investment in Canadian soccer infrastructure that would be designed to benefit participants at multiple levels of the sport. At the appropriate time, we will engage stakeholders to gather additional input about the project and conduct an open and transparent process to determine its location.
Canada Soccer’s financial outlook continues to improve, with encouraging forward-looking trends. The operating deficit has been reduced from $4 million in 2024 to $2.4 million in the 2025 budget. We are on track to finish the year ahead of this budget while at the same time doubling investment in our Youth National Teams and making a new $1 million funding contribution to support the Northern Super League (NSL).
This positive trend is driven by several factors, including the generosity of donors as part of the Canada Soccer Foundation’s Canada Rising campaign, the positive impact of CanadaRED memberships, enhanced operational efficiencies, strong match-day revenue, and the support of our Member Associations and the wider soccer community.
While we are optimistic about the financial outlook for Canada Soccer, there is still more work ahead to reach the point where structural revenue consistently exceeds structural costs. Reaching this milestone will enable greater and lasting investments in soccer programs that fuel the growth of the game across Canada and at all levels – from grassroots up through the national team system. You can be part of this journey by joining CanadaRED or making a gift to the Canada Soccer Foundation in support of the Canada Rising campaign.
We spent time at the board meeting reflecting on the cultural journey for Canada Soccer and, more broadly, the community of soccer in Canada from grassroots to the national teams. We aspire for a soccer landscape that is increasingly characterized by alignment, partnership, and a common desire for success. Canada Soccer is making a deliberate effort to model a positive and collaborative intent in our leadership. We think we are at such a critical point for the growth of Canadian soccer that the importance of unity and togetherness among all stakeholders is paramount. Soccer is already Canada’s most widely accessible game and represents the best of Canada’s traits – such as strength from differences and mutual respect. We aim for a soccer industry that reflects these characteristics as well.
Internally, the culture of Canada Soccer has also evolved. The drone matter, while unfortunate, forced us to take a hard look at our practices and expectations. This involved broad reflection about the underlying cultural patterns that created the issue – leading to disciplinary measures for fourteen coaches and administrative staff – but the most important outcome was the growth that followed. We emerged from this process more aware and more committed to a healthy and accountable culture, and with enhanced requirements for ethics and reporting of concerns. We are now confident the organization is culturally stronger and better prepared.
Kevin and the staff team have been working closely with new Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) leadership – in particular, with James Johnson, the new CEO of CSB – to find common ground. The relationship is constructive. We are hopeful to reach a realigned partnership that best serves the long-term interests of Canadian soccer and its stakeholders.
As part of our commitment to unity and progress, Peter has been traveling extensively across Canada to engage directly with the leadership of our Provincial and Territorial partners. These conversations are vital to strengthening collaboration and building the shared vision needed to elevate soccer nationwide, and to achieve the kind of strategic alignment for soccer envisioned in the Future of Sport Commission’s preliminary report.
We will soon be listing our Ottawa office for sale. The Ottawa office is an old house that was built in 1876 – in fact, it is a former residence of Canada’s third Prime Minister – that is no longer an optimal modern workspace. While we do not expect an immediate transaction, this step will allow us to transition into a more effective and efficient workspace for our Ottawa-based staff. Our head office location will remain in Ottawa for the immediate future. We have also started working out of a small satellite location in Toronto to be nearer to commercial stakeholders and other Toronto-based partners.
We are excited about the opportunities for Canadian soccer that are presented by the current moment. We are also acutely aware of our responsibility to help soccer in Canada benefit from these opportunities. Canada Soccer is working hard each day to live up to this responsibility during this critical time. Thank you to everyone across Canada whose passion and commitment continues to drive soccer forward.
Sincerely,
President & Board Chair , Peter Augruso and Chief Executive Officer & General Secretary, Kevin Blue
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