By Elke Porter | WBN News World Sports | July 26, 2025
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Canada Soccer is entering a defining year as the nation prepares to co-host FIFA World Cup 2026, with leadership emphasizing the tournament's potential to transform soccer across the country and establish lasting grassroots growth.

The organization has launched Club+, a multi-year initiative designed to equip local clubs with tools and resources to capitalize on World Cup momentum and convert increased interest into sustained participation. Soccer is already the most played team sport among Canadian youth, and officials expect the World Cup's unprecedented attention to drive even greater family and individual participation.

Canada's Men's National Team, currently ranked 28th in FIFA standings—an all-time high—is ramping up preparation with matches against top-tier opponents including Romania, Wales, Australia, and Colombia. Despite a disappointing Concacaf Gold Cup result, the team is on a positive trajectory as it builds toward home soil competition.

The strategic focus extends beyond 2026, with similar preparation planned for the Women's National Team ahead of FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 qualifying. Canada Soccer aims to use strong national team performances to elevate soccer's cultural profile and attract new commercial partnerships.

Regarding ticketing, FIFA will handle sales with Canada Soccer receiving approximately 8% of purchasable inventory for matches featuring the national team. These tickets will be distributed through the CanadaRED supporter program, with equal allocation across membership tiers and special accommodations for registered players, coaches, referees, and alumni.

Financial sustainability remains a priority, with new revenue streams including the Canada Soccer Foundation and CanadaRED program generating funds for reinvestment. The organization plans to direct resources toward National Team systems, coaching development, and reducing costs for club soccer families.

Organizational strengthening has continued following last year's Olympic drone incident, with Canada Soccer implementing annual compliance training, mandatory ethics clauses in contracts, third-party confidential reporting platforms, and membership-approved bylaw reforms that include independent oversight.

CEO Kevin Blue and President Peter Augruso emphasized the once-in-a-generation opportunity to create lasting benefits for Canadian soccer. With less than a year until the World Cup, the organization is positioning itself to maximize the tournament's transformative potential for players, coaches, and communities nationwide.

The leadership team stressed their commitment to ensuring soccer in Canada benefits comprehensively from this pivotal moment in the sport's evolution.

TAGS: #FIFA World Cup 2026 #Canada Soccer #Canada Soccer Foundation #CanadaRED #Can MNT #World Cup 26 #Grassroots Soccer #WBN News World Sports #Elke Porter

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