Canadian Soccer Association

Last updated

Canadian Soccer Association
CONCACAF
Canadian Soccer Association logo.svg
Short nameCSA
FoundedMay 1912;112 years ago (1912-05)
Headquarters237 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario
FIFA affiliation1912–1926;
1948–present
CONCACAF affiliationSeptember 18, 1961
(original member) [1]
PresidentPeter Augruso
General SecretaryKevin Blue
Website www.canadasoccer.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Canadian Soccer Association (French : Association canadienne de soccer; branded as Canada Soccer) is the governing body for soccer in Canada. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, the federation is a full member of FIFA and governs Canadian soccer at the international, professional, and amateur levels, including: the men's and women's national teams, Canadian Premier League, youth organizations, beach soccer, futsal, Paralympic and deaf national teams. The Canadian Soccer Association also administers and operates the Canadian Championship.

Contents

History

Place Soccer Canada in Downtown Ottawa is the headquarters of the Canadian Soccer Association Place Soccer Canada.jpg
Place Soccer Canada in Downtown Ottawa is the headquarters of the Canadian Soccer Association

The Dominion of Canada Football Association, today known as the Canadian Soccer Association, was founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba in July 1912. [2] [3] The organization joined FIFA on December 31, 1912. On June 21, 1926, the DCFA resigned from FIFA, only to rejoin on June 20, 1948. The governing body of the game retained that name until it was changed to The Football Association of Canada on June 6, 1952. The association later changed its name to the Canadian Soccer Football Association in 1958 and then at last to the Canadian Soccer Association in 1971.

Canada Soccer has hosted several global soccer tournaments, including the 1976 Olympic football tournament, the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, and will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with Mexico and United States. The association has also hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup (2007), the FIFA U-16 World Championship (1987), and the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup (2002, 2014).

Organization and governance

Canada Soccer is a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors consisting of 14 directors: a President, Vice President, six elected directors, and six appointed or independent directors. [4] [5] Each of the six elected directors is elected from one of six geographic regions. The board must include at least three men and three women.

Canada Soccer is administered by the General Secretariat, which is led by general secretary Peter Montopoli and deputy general secretary Earl Cochrane. [6] The general secretary is the chief executive of Soccer Canada, and is appointed by the board of directors. [4]

Canada Soccer is a member of the worldwide soccer body FIFA and the North American soccer body CONCACAF and also has a relationship with the International Olympic Committee.

Canada Soccer's objectives, as described in its by-laws, are to: [4]

  1. promote, regulate and control the game of soccer throughout Canada, particularly through youth and development programs;
  2. organize competitions in Association Football in all its forms at a national level, by defining the areas of authority conceded to the various leagues of which it is composed;
  3. draw up Association Football regulations and provisions, and ensure their enforcement;
  4. protect the interests of its Members;
  5. respect and prevent any infringement of the statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA, CONCACAF and The CSA, as well as the Laws of the Game;
  6. prevent all methods or practices that jeopardize the integrity of matches or competitions or give rise to abuse of Association Football;
  7. control and supervise all friendly Association Football matches played throughout Canada;
  8. manage international sporting relations connected with Association Football;
  9. host competitions at international and other levels.

National teams

Men's national team

The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. Their most significant achievements are winning the 1985 CONCACAF Championship to qualify for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, winning the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup to qualify for the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup and qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. A Canadian club team also won a gold medal in the 1904 Summer Olympics.

The men's national soccer team have played at the FIFA World Cup on two occasions, in 1986, and 2022. They have yet to make it through to the knockout stages. By qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Canada ended a 36-year drought. Canada with Mexico and the United States will jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the first 48-team event.

Canada have played at the CONCACAF Gold Cup on eighteen occasions, most recently in 2021. They co-hosted the tournament in 2015, where they finished 4th in their group, and did not advance to the knockout stage.

Women's national team

The Canada women's national soccer team represents Canada in international women's soccer competitions at the senior women's level. Its most significant achievements are winning the 1998 CONCACAF Women's Championship to qualify for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, and winning the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying to qualify for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. The Canadian team also won a gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The women's national soccer team has played at the FIFA Women's World Cup on eight occasions (missing only the inaugural 1991 edition), most recently in 2023. The team reached international prominence at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, losing in the third place match to the United States. Canada hosted the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, and reached the quarterfinals.

The team has played at the CONCACAF W Championship on ten occasions, most recently in 2022. It hosted the tournament in 1994 and 1998.

Canada has played at the Summer Olympics on four occasions, most recently at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where they were crowned champions for the very first time.

Youth national teams

The men's youth team most significant achievements are winning the 1986 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament to qualify for the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship, and winning the 1996 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament to qualify for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.

The women's youth team most significant achievements are winning the 2004 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, winning the 2008 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship to qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, and winning the 2010 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship to qualify for the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

Canada Soccer Association oversees and promotes the development of many youth national teams:

Extended national teams

Professional leagues

Despite a long history of professional soccer in the country, Canada have struggled to build and sustain domestic soccer leagues. They have gone through many different iterations, finally landing on the Canadian Premier League that was founded in 2019.

Men

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) is the top division of soccer in Canada. It is the only fully professional, and only fully national league in the system. Founded in 2019, the CPL is composed of eight teams and is sanctioned by the CSA. There are also three Canadian teams which play in Major League Soccer, the first-division league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, reflecting a longstanding practice of major Canadian sports franchises competing in American leagues.

CSA does not have a sanctioned second-division men's soccer league; however, they do have a third-division sanctioned league: League1 Canada which was founded in 2022. League1 Canada is contested by clubs from four divisions; these are Ligue1 Québec, League1 Ontario, League1 British Columbia, and League1 Alberta for both the men's and women's divisions. In 2022, Toronto FC II and Whitecaps FC 2 began play in MLS Next Pro, a USSF-sanctioned third-division league.

At the professional level, Canada's domestic cup is the Canadian Championship. Founded in 2008, the Canadian Championship is an annual tournament contested by Canadian professional teams and the champions of each League1 Canada division. The winner is awarded the Voyageurs Cup and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. [7] Canada's best performance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup came in the 2014–15 competition, when Montreal Impact reached the finals. [8] Toronto FC also reached the final in 2018 where they fell in penalties to C.D. Guadalajara. [9]

Women

As of 2023, Canada does not have a professional women's league. [10] The CSA previously had an affiliation with the U.S.-based National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) where some Canada women's national soccer team players were assigned to NWSL clubs. [11] This affiliation ended after the 2021 season when the allocation system was abolished, [12] although many Canadians continue to play in the American league. [13]

In 2022, former national team player Diana Matheson and then national team captain Christine Sinclair announced a new Canadian women's professional league which will start play in April 2025. [14] Matheson and Project 8 Sports Inc. are leading this effort while Sinclair is involved in an advisory role. [14]

Six teams are expected to play the inaugural season of the Northern Super League. Halifax Tides FC, AFC Toronto, Calgary Wild FC, Montreal Roses, Ottawa Rapid and Vancouver Rise are expected to take the field in 2025.

Leagues

Professional leagues in Canada
LeagueDivisionFederation# of teams
Canadian Premier League 1CSA8 men's
Major League Soccer 1 USSF 3 men's
MLS Next Pro 3USSF2 men's
Northern Super League 1CSA6 women's
Semi-professional leagues in Canada
LeagueDivisionFederation# of men's teams# of women's teams
United Women's Soccer 2USSF—2
League1 Alberta 3CSA77
League1 British Columbia 3CSA77
League1 Ontario 3CSA2522
Ligue1 Québec 3CSA1112

Lawsuit

In July 2022, an independent review summarized in a 125-page report by McLaren Global Sport Solution, commissioned by Canada Soccer, concluded that Canada Soccer mishandled sexual harassment allegations in 2008 against then Canada U-20 women's soccer coach Bob Birarda, who was later found guilty of three counts of sexual assault. It said Canada Soccer was "described by many as being dysfunctional and inefficient" in 2007 and 2008, and concluded among other things that "harassment was not a priority issue amongst the senior Canadian Soccer Association leadership team" at the time. [15]

In 2022, Canada Soccer's then newly appointed Secretary General Earl Cochrane said: "We are going to be leaders in this safe sport – through policy, practice, programs." [16]

Executive committee

RoleMemberNotes
President Peter Augruso [17]
Vice-President Paul-Claude Bérubé [18]
General Secretary Kevin Blue [19]
Treasurer Steve Reed [20]
MemberDale T. Briggs [21]
MemberKelly Brown [21]
MemberBrian Burden [21]
MemberCharisse Bacchus [21]
MemberCharlie Cuzzetto [21]
MemberStephanie J. Geosits [21]
MemberDominique Grégoire [21]
MemberOrest Konowalchuk [21]
MemberPierre Marchand [21]
MemberDino Rossi [21]
MemberDon Story [21]
MemberBrittany Timko Baxter [21]

Presidents

No.NameTenure
1Fred Barter1912
2Tom Watson1913
3Edward Bailey Fisher1914
4Hugh Craig Cambell1915–1919
5Tom Guthrie1919
6Dan McNeil1920–1921
7John Easton1922–1925
8John Russell1925–1931
9Tom Holland1931–1932
10Charles Smail1932–1934
11Len Peto1935–1938
12Tom Elliot1939–1940
13Fred Crumblehulme1946–1947
14Robert Walker1947
15Otis Todd1947–1949
16Charles Pinnell1949–1953
17Ernest Campbell1953
18Jock Hendry1954–1956
19Arthur Arnold1957
20Victor Hagen1958–1960
21Patrick Nolan1961–1962
22Dave Fryatt1963–1964
23Bill Simpson1965–1968
24Aubrey Sanford1969–1971
25John Barnes1972–1973
26Bill Stirling1973–1981
27Jim Fleming1982–1985
28 Fred Stambrook 1986–1991
29Terry Quinn1992–1997
30Andy Sharpe2001–2005
31Colin Linford2006–2007
32Dominic Maestracci2008–2012
33 Victor Montagliani 2012–2017
34 Steve Reed 2017–2020
35 Nick Bontis 2020–2023
36 Charmaine Crooks 2023–2024
37Peter Augruso [22] 2024–present

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer in Canada</span>

In Canada, soccer is the most popular sport in terms of participation rate; according to FIFA's Big Count, almost 2.7 million people played in Canada in 2006. Professional soccer in Canada is played in the Canadian Premier League and Major League Soccer. Canada also has many semi-professional and amateur soccer leagues. Canada's men's and women's national soccer teams are ranked 49th and 9th respectively in the FIFA World Rankings as of April 4, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican Football Federation</span> Governing body of football in Mexico

The Mexican Football Federation, abbreviated as FMF is the official governing body of association football in Mexico. It administers the men's and women's national teams with all its youth teams, the national teams of futsal and beach soccer, the Liga MX with all its professional divisions, all affiliated amateur sectors, and controls promoting, organizing, directing, expanding, and supervising competitive football in Mexico. The FMF was established on August 23, 1927 to replace the Federación Central de Fútbol and its first president was Humberto Garza Ramos. It is an affiliate member of FIFA since 1929 and one of the founding members of CONCACAF since 1961. Subject to policies, statutes, objectives and ideals of those international governing bodies. Its headquarters are located in Toluca, State of Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada women's national soccer team</span>

The Canada women's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association, the governing body for soccer in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexico women's national football team</span> Womens national association football team representing Mexico

The Mexico women's national football team represents Mexico in international women's football. The team is governed by the Mexican Football Federation and competes within CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football. It has won three gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Games and a gold medal in the Pan American Games, as well as a silver and bronze in the Women's World Cup prior to FIFA's recognition of the women's game. In addition to its senior team, Mexico also has U-20, U-17, and U-15 teams. The U-17 team reached the final of the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, and the U-15 cohort earned the bronze medal in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

The Canadian soccer league system, also called the Canadian soccer pyramid, is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in Canada. The governing body of soccer in the country is the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), which oversees the system and domestic cups but does not operate any of its component leagues. In addition, some Canadian teams compete in leagues that are based in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelley O'Hara</span> American soccer player (born 1988)

Kelley Maureen O'Hara is an American former professional soccer player. She represented the United States national team on 160 occasions, winning two FIFA Women's World Cups and an Olympic gold medal. She spent most of her club career with National Women's Soccer League club NJ/NY Gotham FC. Known for her intensity, she played primarily as a wingback but played as a forward in college and occasionally played an attacking role in her professional career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alyssa Naeher</span> American soccer player (born 1988)

Alyssa Michele Naeher is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She was part of the United States roster during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and was the starting goalkeeper for the winning U.S. teams at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as the bronze-medal winning 2020 Tokyo Olympics team. She has also played for the Boston Breakers and Turbine Potsdam. She was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year while with the Breakers in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmelina Moscato</span> Canadian soccer player and coach (born 1984)

Carmelina Moscato is a Canadian soccer coach and former professional player who is currently an assistant coach for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played as a defender for UPC Tavagnacco in the Serie A; Piteå IF and Dalsjöfors GoIF in the Damallsvenskan; the Chicago Red Stars, Boston Breakers and Seattle Reign FC in the NWSL; and Western Sydney Wanderers in the Australian W-League. She made 94 appearances for the Canadian national team. She served as the commissioner of League1 Ontario Women's Division from 2019 to 2020. She was the director of women's football for the Bahamas Football Association in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's soccer in Canada</span> Association football practiced by women in Canada

Soccer is not traditionally a major mainstream sport in Canada, but the sport is growing especially in places like Nova Scotia. Up to 85,000 girls participate in soccer, which is 41% of all youth in the country. The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup was hosted in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsey Horan</span> American soccer player (born 1994)

Lindsey Michelle Horan is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Première Ligue club Lyon and captains the United States national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Mewis</span> American soccer player (born 1992)

Samantha June Mewis is an American former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder. Mewis is the editor-in-chief and podcast host of The Women's Game from Men in Blazers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kadeisha Buchanan</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1995)

Kadeisha Buchanan is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for English Women's Super League club Chelsea and the Canada women's national team. Born in Toronto and raised in Brampton, Ontario, she is the youngest of seven girls in a single-parent home. Buchanan was only 17 when she made her debut for the national team on January 13, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Lawrence</span> Canadian soccer player

Ashley Elizabeth Marie Lawrence is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a full-back or a midfielder for Women's Super League club Chelsea and the Canada national team. She has been described as "one of the best attacking full-backs in the world."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deanne Rose</span> Canadian soccer player

Deanne Cynthia Rose is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Canada national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kailen Sheridan</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1995)

Kailen Mary Iacovoni Sheridan is a Canadian professional soccer goalkeeper for National Women's Soccer League club San Diego Wave and the Canada national team. She previously played for Sky Blue FC / NJ/NY Gotham FC and played college soccer for the Clemson Tigers. She was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year with the Wave in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordyn Huitema</span> Canadian soccer player (born 2001)

Jordyn Pamela Huitema is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for National Women's Soccer League club Seattle Reign FC and the Canada national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Fox</span> American soccer player (born 1998)

Emily Ann Fox is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the United States national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Pickett</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1996)

Victoria Serena Pickett is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Canada national team.

Jade Elizabeth Rose is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a defender for the Harvard Crimson in the Ivy League and the Canadian national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Allen</span> Canadian soccer player (born 2005)

Amanda Marie Allen is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Lexington SC of the USL Super League on loan from Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Canada national team.

References

  1. ↑ "Ramón Coll, electo Presidente de la Confederación de Futbol de América del Norte, América Central y el Caribe" [Ramón Coll, elected President of the Football Confederation of North America, Central America and the Caribbean]. La Nación (in Spanish). September 23, 1961.
  2. ↑ Jose, Colin. "Manitoba: The Early Years". Canadian Soccer History. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Manitoba". Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Canadian Soccer Association By-Laws 2013" (PDF). Canadian Soccer Association. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Canada Soccer Governance". Canadian Soccer Association. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Canada Soccer staff". Canadian Soccer Association. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Canadian teams set to do battle". The Globe and Mail . Canada. March 27, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Montreal Impact become first Canadian team to advance to CONCACAF final". Montreal Gazette . Montreal. The Canadian Press . Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ Armstrong, Laura (April 26, 2018). "Toronto FC loses CONCACAF Champions League final in dramatic shootout". Toronto Star . Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  10. ↑ Johnson, Meaghen (August 12, 2023). "Matheson not tempering expectations for women's pro soccer league". TSN . Retrieved August 16, 2023. The national team is currently ranked seventh in the world and is the only country inside the top 20 without its own domestic league.
  11. ↑ "Christine Sinclair leads list of 10 Canadians given allocated status in NWSL". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  12. ↑ Zucker, Joseph (December 13, 2021). "USWNT, US Soccer Agree to End NWSL Allocation System for National Team Players". Bleacher Report . Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ Palermo, Adam (March 23, 2023). "CanWNT star-spotting: A Canadian fan's guide to the 2023 NWSL season". Canadian Soccer Daily. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Dichter, Myles (December 5, 2022). "Christine Sinclair, Diana Matheson reveal pro Canadian women's soccer league set for kickoff in 2025". CBC Sports . Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  15. ↑ Davidson, Neil (July 28, 2022). "Canada Soccer Mishandles Sexual Harrament Allegations". CBC News . The Canadian Press.
  16. ↑ Heroux, Devin (July 29, 2022). "Canada Soccer Committed to Strengthening Safe Sport Culture". CBC News .
  17. ↑ Nightingale, Tom (May 5, 2024). "Canada Soccer elects Peter Augruso as new president, raises membership fees". Canadian Soccer Daily. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  18. ↑ Davidson, Neil (March 1, 2023). "Olympian Charmaine Crooks named Canada Soccer's interim president". CBC News . The Canadian Press.
  19. ↑ "Golf Canada chief sport officer Kevin Blue named Canada Soccer general secretary, CEO". Lethbridge Herald . The Canadian Press. February 29, 2024. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  20. ↑ "The Canadian Soccer Association". FIFA . Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Board of Directors - Canada Soccer". September 15, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  22. ↑ Staff (May 4, 2024). "Ontario Soccer Board of Directors Chair, Peter Augruso Elected Next Canada Soccer President". Ontario Soccer. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.