Organizational Update from Canada Soccer

Hello Canadian Soccer Community,

Today marks 500 Days Out from the first ever men’s FIFA World Cup match played on home soil. Until then, the work continues to build up our sport across the country. From the launch of the Northern Super League to the Men’s National Team competing for two Concacaf titles, and a full slate of professional and amateur national championships, there is much to look forward to on the pitch for Canadian soccer this year.

Today we are writing to provide another update about the business and organizational affairs of Canada Soccer. Our intent is to keep you informed about some of the ongoing administrative and organizational developments that will continue to move our federation forward.

Organizational Culture and Values 

The year started with the naming of Casey Stoney as our new head coach for the Women’s National Team. Casey is a global figure in women’s football, renowned for her celebrated playing career and her successful record as a values-driven coach. Her appointment heralds a new era for our Women’s National Team, underscoring our dedication to achieving excellence in line with Canadian values.

Canada Soccer is turning the page on the challenges encountered at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. With a heightened focus on integrity in our organization, we are continuing to learn from past challenges, working diligently on enhancing our governance, and taking the necessary steps to ensure everyone at Canada Soccer upholds the values we share.

This improvement process is a journey. We’re currently updating employment contracts to include mandatory reporting clauses, adopting new software for confidential reporting, updating our Code of Conduct and Ethics, and enhancing training for staff. 

Governance

An underlying cause of the challenges that have confronted Canada Soccer previously is a governance model that must be updated. In our quest to improve, we recognize the need to modernize our governance model to align with Canadian best practices and the Canadian Sport Governance Code. 

In June of last year, we published a report from an independent third party who conducted a review of Canada Soccer’s governance structure and authored a series of recommendations. The Governance Committee of the Board of Directors has been working diligently with Concacaf and FIFA to draft revised by-laws, which will be proposed for approval at our Annual Meeting of the Members in May. 

Finances

For 2025, we're projecting a $2.4M operating deficit, down from $4.0M in 2024. This will be the final year of operating loses, and starting in 2026, we anticipate surpluses for the foreseeable future. 

We are continuing to work on different levers for revenue generation, including philanthropy, which for the first time will become a key source of revenue in our budget. We look forward to a formal launch of additional fundraising initiatives later in the year. 

We also remain actively engaged in improving our commercial business and the associated rights agreements.

Strategic Priorities for 2025 through 2027

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, our strategic priorities are focused on capitalizing on this once-in-a-generation opportunity. After engaging with stakeholders across the Canadian soccer landscape, we are finalizing our strategic priorities for 2025 through 2027. These priorities, which will soon be shared publicly, aim to strengthen the financial and organizational health of Canada Soccer so that our federation can help ensure the sport flourishes for stakeholders nationwide as we co-host the FIFA World Cup.

Exciting Initiatives

Lastly, 2025 is set to be a year of celebration and new opportunities. We will honour the 25th anniversary of the Men’s National Team’s 2000 Gold Cup victory. Additionally, we will soon provide details on how fans across Canada can access World Cup tickets. In addition to the exciting launch of the Northern Super League, we are exploring more competitive structures to advance the women’s game in our country.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to an incredible year together. We can’t wait to see you along our travels.

Peter Augruso, President ​ | Kevin Blue, CEO & General Secretary