FIFA clearly wants a well-functioning Canadian domestic pro soccer league for when the country co-hosts the 2026 World Cup. The world governing body of soccer also apparently realizes the daunting distance between Victoria and Halifax in this week announcing $2.7-million Cdn in funding for the Canadian Premier League between now and 2026. The money will be used for travel and accommodation expenses.
“As one of the largest countries in the world, and with teams spread from British Columbia on the west coast to Nova Scotia on the east coast, the league faces travel costs and logistical challenges unimaginable in many nations,” FIFA said in a statement.
Paul Beirne, managing director of Island-based Pacific FC, welcomed the funding and was involved in the initial negotiations with FIFA as the first president of the CPL upon its launch in 2019.
“This is an important commitment from FIFA and acknowledges that every nation is different and has its own challenges,” said Beirne.
“Our travel, and number of kilometres, is unprecedented in domestic sport. There are four time zones between Victoria and Halifax and each team has to make that trip twice a season. Travel is a severe impediment in the CPL and this is a real opportunity to support the league.”
FIFA noted the Canadian men’s team qualified for its first World Cup in 36 years at Qatar 2022 and that the women’s national team is the defending Tokyo Olympic champion.
“Football in sa国际传媒 is enjoying a golden age like never before,” said FIFA.
“Above all looms the jewel in the crown as sa国际传媒 prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup [along with the U.S. and Mexico]. As always, a strong and buoyant national league is key to underpinning a strong national team. Despite still being in its fledgling period, two CPL alumni featured in sa国际传媒’s squad for Qatar 2022, while six current players featured in the nation’s most recent U-20 squad.”
Pacific FC is a charter member of the CPL and plays at Starlight Stadium in Langford.
