Complete Bid Book – United Bid

4
General Information
Football in Canada: Football has long been Canada’s
number one participation sport. As a growing football nation,
the sport has enjoyed unprecedented public and corporate
support alongside dedicated leaders working together to
advance the game. Hosting competitions like the recordsetting
2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championships
Canada, FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, 2012
CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifier, and FIFA Women’s
World Cup Canada 2015 has had major impacts in growing
the interest in the sport across the country.
Canada is considered a leader in women’s football and
was the only FIFA Member Association to medal at both the
2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Canada Soccer is working
diligently to align its men’s program from the youth to national
teams in an effort to produce world-class players on a
consistent basis. At the professional level, Canada is home
to three Major League Soccer (MLS) franchises – Montréal,
Toronto, and Vancouver – and worked with Mexico and the
United States to establish the National Women’s Soccer
League (NWSL). The men’s Canadian Premier League is
scheduled to launch in spring of 2019.
35million+
people play regularly at all
levels in Canada, Mexico, and
the United States
Canada Soccer will use the opportunity to host the 2026
FIFA World Cup to innovate and align football in our
country over an eight-year roadmap, to advance the
development of the sport across the nation, and to invest in
the game in communities from coast to coast to coast.
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