Canada Soccer still waiting on Canadian Soccer Business deal but expects improved financial figures

Neil Davidson · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Dec 23, 2025 3:49 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 minute ago

Canada Soccer and the men's national team have agreed on compensation for the players' participation in next year's World Cup.

But there is a catch, which hopefully will be resolved ahead of the 48-team tournament's June 11 start. While there is a deal, it is not yet official.

"The labour agreement framework between [Canada Soccer] and the players includes World Cup compensation for both 2026 and 2027," Canada Soccer said in a statement to The Canadian Press, referencing the 2026 men's and 2027 women's World Cups. "Its ratification is dependent on the CSB [Canadian Soccer Business] agreement being resolved."

Canadian Soccer Business, whose investor group and board includes the Canadian Premier League owners, looks after marketing and broadcast rights for both Canada Soccer and the CPL, which just completed its seventh season.

Kevin Blue, Canada Soccer's chief executive officer and general secretary, announced in September 2024 the association had reached a "framework" for a long-awaited labour agreement with its national teams. But sealing the deal was contingent on a reworked agreement with CSB, he said at the time.

James Johnson, Group CEO of Canadian Soccer Business, says such an agreement is imminent.

"We're in a great spot. We're not there yet but we're not too far off," Johnson told the Footy Prime podcast earlier this month.

"[An agreement] will definitely be in place before the World Cup. I'm hoping it's much earlier than the World Cup," he added.

The players have complained the existing CSB agreement is holding the game back and preventing national teams from getting the preparation they need.

WATCH | Some ticket prices drop for Canada's World Cup matches:

Women's agreement tied to men's talks

Canada Soccer is believed to receive some $4 million a year under the current deal as "the beneficiary of a rights fee guarantee." That amount has been as been boosted by some $500,000 each year leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

The women's previous labour deal expired at the end of 2021. While they have reached an interim labour agreement with Canada Soccer, that deal was tied to the men's negotiations given the pay equity provisions of the deal.

The Canadian Soccer Players Association, formed by the Canadian women in 2016, turned up the heat by filing a $40 million lawsuit against 15 current and former board members of Canada Soccer, alleging "negligence and breach of fiduciary duty" over the CSB contract.

The men are negotiating their first formal agreement after forming the Canada Men's National Soccer Team Players Association in the summer of 2022.

Meanwhile, Canada Soccer is anticipating improved fiscal 2025 numbers.

The association had expected a deficit of $2.4 million, down from the $4 million shortfall in the 2024 fiscal year. Canada Soccer now says that deficit is expected to be less than originally forecast.

That's due to increased revenues, with Canada Soccer noting that investment in its youth teams nearly doubled in fiscal 2025, with more investment expected next year.

Canada Soccer, which reported revenue of $37.5 million in 2024, says it is anticipating a "meaningful surplus" in 2026.

WATCH | Evaluating Canada's 2026 World Cup group:

World Cup winnings to help Canada Soccer

Teams will earn at least $10.5 million US from the World Cup from FIFA, with all participants receiving $1.5 million in preparatory money plus prize money ranging from $9 million for teams failing to survive the group stage to $50 million for the winner.

Canada Soccer says such money will be used to boost its financial reserves so it can sustain its programs in non-World Cup years.

So-called legacy funding, which Canada will receive as co-host, will be directed to infrastructure-related projects such as a national training centre, said Blue.

"But we don't have specific figures yet," he said in an interview.

Canada Soccer is currently soliciting interest from possible partners for a national training centre, with a February deadline for submissions. That will lead to a shortlist and a funding model drawing on a variety of sources, including World Cup legacy funding and private and public support.

On the philanthropy front, Canada Soccer says its "Canada Rising" campaign is more than $14 million along the way to its $25 million goal by the end of 2027.

And Canada Soccer says its CanadaRed supporters group currently has some 186,000 members, including more than 13,000 paying members.

The revamped program features seven levels, including five paid tiers ranging from $50 to $5,000 annually. Fans wanting to buy tickets for Canada Soccer's allotment for Canada's games at the World Cup must enter the CanadaRed draw with one's odds of success related to what tier they are.

Blue says there were fewer than 1,000 paying members prior to the program's overhaul ahead of the World Cup.

Canada Soccer says the money raised from CanadaRed "enhances funding for our national team system, helps support the growth and education of Canadian coaches, and provides additional funding for programs that increase accessibility to youth soccer."

Blue notes Canada Soccer, while understanding fan frustration at ticket prices, does not have any say in the tournament pricing.

WATCH | Toronto expected to 'go crazy' during 2026 World Cup: