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Canada Soccer is forecasting a $6.55 million surplus in 2026, signaling a financial turnaround after years of deficits as it prepares to co-host the FIFA World Cup.
In a financial update released Wednesday, the organization reported a $1.44 million deficit for 2025, an improvement from a $3.99 million deficit in 2024 and nearly $1 million better than budgeted.
“Many people have been working very hard for many years trying to build the sport,” said Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue. “And I think what you’re seeing now is, hopefully, a continued positive trend in the sport broadly, and also Canada Soccer being a big driver and leader of that positive energy. That’s reflected in some of the progress we’ve made recently, as noted in the update.”
The brighter financial outlook coincides with Canada co-hosting the World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Canada Soccer will host six matches in Toronto and seven in Vancouver, benefiting from increased revenue through sponsorships, broadcast rights, and matchday sales.
Revenue is projected to near $62 million in 2026, while expenses are expected to total $55.4 million.
The anticipated surplus will help rebuild reserves after years of deficits, allowing continued investment in national team programs, coaching, and domestic leagues.
Blue explained that World Cup years typically bring both higher revenue and increased costs. “And that’s a lot of what’s reflected here, along with organic revenue growth from increased commercial activity and philanthropy,” he said.
Philanthropic revenue rose sharply, from $1.7 million in 2024 to $5.18 million in 2025. Blue described this focus on donor support as a strategic, modern approach for a National Sport Organization. “We want to diversify our revenue streams,” he said. “This is one area we’ve been emphasizing, and you can see that in the results.”
Canada Soccer has also signed a new commercial agreement with Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment, formerly Canadian Soccer Business. This deal is expected to generate over $100 million in additional net revenue over 12 years.
While that financial boost isn’t reflected in this update, Blue said finalizing the deal before the World Cup provides clarity and confidence for corporate investors. “It’s critical for psychological and confidence reasons, especially in the corporate community, who are investing at an increased rate in the sport,” he said.
Last week, Canada Soccer ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the player associations representing the men’s and women’s national teams. The deal, largely negotiated in 2024, ensures equitable compensation and benefits for both teams.
The agreement includes a no-strike, no-lockout clause and introduces revenue sharing, giving players a portion of ticket revenue from home friendly matches.
“The formal ratification is symbolic of a period at the end of the sentence regarding the positive relationship we have with the players,” Blue said.
Transparency remains a priority. The organization posted the collective bargaining agreement and financial outlook online. “In the past, there have been questions about this,” Blue acknowledged. “I would suggest Canada Soccer is walking the talk in trying to be as transparent as any sports organization in Canada.”
As Canada prepares for the World Cup, plans for a nationwide celebration have been unveiled. FIFA announced a Canada Celebrates tour making 38 stops in 34 cities from Halifax to Whitehorse, running June 1 to July 19.
Vancouver and Toronto will host matches, with the tour designed to bring the World Cup atmosphere within a two-hour drive for over 75 percent of Canadians.
“This really wraps up the diversity and breadth of our country,” said FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani. “It’s a festivity of football with big screens, games, food, music—bringing a real Canadiana feeling.”
The tour’s kickoff coincides with a June 1 friendly match between Canada and Uzbekistan in Edmonton, and celebrations will conclude July 19 in Brampton and Niagara Falls, Ontario, as the championship game takes place in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Montagliani, who has been involved in the sport for decades, sees the Canada Celebrates tour as a potential legacy project for future World Cups. “It’s something Canadians could offer moving forward, a project future hosts can use,” he said.
With under 70 days remaining before the tournament starts in Mexico City and Guadalajara on June 11, World Cup fever is building.
Canada’s first game is June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by matches in Vancouver against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
Six games will be held in Toronto, seven in Vancouver.
Excitement is visible, Montagliani noted, with fans already sporting World Cup gear. He recently attended the grand reopening of Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
“To have the tournament on home soil is almost an out-of-body experience,” Montagliani said. “It’s something you thought could never happen. But a lot of people should take pride in the work done over 20 years to get us here.”
Preparations continue at B.C. Place Stadium and BMO Field, which will be renamed Toronto Stadium for the event. Plans for fan events are being refined, and head coach Jesse Marsch keeps readying his squad for Canada’s first World Cup on home turf.
“The beauty about the World Cup is it’s about a country,” Montagliani said. “Canada has always risen to the occasion for big events, and this will be no different.”