Canadian Soccer Association
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Soccer Association (Canada Soccer) (French: Association canadienne de soccer) is the governing body of soccer (association football) in Canada. It is a national organization that oversees the Canadian men's
and women's
national teams for international play, as well as the respective junior sides (U-20 and U-17 for men and women). Within Canada, it oversees national professional and amateur
club championships.
in 1913. In 1928, the FA resigned from FIFA until 1946, following the example of British associations in a dispute over broken time payments to amateur players.
The Association has hosted three FIFA tournaments, the FIFA U-17 World Cup
Canada 1987, the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2002, and the FIFA U-20 World Cup
Canada 2007. The Association will next host the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2014 and the FIFA Women's World Cup
in 2015.
The Association's national teams have won nine confederation championships. The national men won the 1985 CONCACAF Men's Championship and the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
; the national women won the 1998 and 2010 CONCACAF women's championships. The men's youth team won the 1986 and 1996 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
while the women's youth team won the 2004 and 2008 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship
along with the 2010 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship
.
. In 2008, the Impact de Montréal won the inaugural competition ahead of Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. By finishing first, the Impact won the Voyageurs Cup
and qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League 2008-09 season.
Joining inaugural Nutrilite Canadian Championship
participants Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver, FC Edmonton entered the competition in 2011.
At the amateur level, Canada's club competitions fall under the National Championships. The senior champions are awarded The Challenge Trophy
(men) and The Jubilee Trophy (women). Club championships are also organized at the U-18, U-16 and U-14 levels.
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
and women's
Canada women's national soccer team
The Canada women's national soccer team is overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association. The team reached its all-time high of 6th in the March 2011 rankings. The team reached international prominence finishing in 4th place at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003, losing to their archrival American team...
national teams for international play, as well as the respective junior sides (U-20 and U-17 for men and women). Within Canada, it oversees national professional and amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
club championships.
History
The founding meeting of the Dominion of Canada Football Association took place on May 24, 1912. The organization joined FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 1913. In 1928, the FA resigned from FIFA until 1946, following the example of British associations in a dispute over broken time payments to amateur players.
The Association has hosted three FIFA tournaments, the FIFA U-17 World Cup
FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to the FIFA U-17 World Championship and known by its current name since 2007, is the world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by Fédération Internationale de Football...
Canada 1987, the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2002, and the FIFA U-20 World Cup
FIFA U-20 World Cup
The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
Canada 2007. The Association will next host the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2014 and the FIFA Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup
The FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...
in 2015.
The Association's national teams have won nine confederation championships. The national men won the 1985 CONCACAF Men's Championship and the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
CONCACAF Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
; the national women won the 1998 and 2010 CONCACAF women's championships. The men's youth team won the 1986 and 1996 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
The CONCACAF Under-20 Championship is the second longest running international association football event in the North America, Central America and the Caribbean region, CONCACAF, and is the qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The format of the tournament has undergone changes...
while the women's youth team won the 2004 and 2008 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship
CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship
The CONCACAF Women's Under-20 tournament is a football competition for women's national teams under 20 years in North America, Central America and Caribbean region, and is the qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup....
along with the 2010 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship
CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship
The CONCACAF Women's Under-17 tournament is a football competition for women's national teams under 17 years of age in North America, Central America and the Caribbean region, and is the qualification tournament for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup...
.
Leagues and cups
At the professional level, Canada's primary competition is the Nutrilite Canadian ChampionshipCanadian Championship
The Canadian Championship—known as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons—is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams...
. In 2008, the Impact de Montréal won the inaugural competition ahead of Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. By finishing first, the Impact won the Voyageurs Cup
Voyageurs Cup
The Voyageurs Cup is the only trophy for top-level professional soccer in Canada. From 2002 to 2007, the cup was awarded annually to the Canadian team finishing with the best record in the USL First Division, from regular season matches against other Canadian teams in the league, and from 2008 the...
and qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League 2008-09 season.
Joining inaugural Nutrilite Canadian Championship
Canadian Championship
The Canadian Championship—known as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons—is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams...
participants Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver, FC Edmonton entered the competition in 2011.
At the amateur level, Canada's club competitions fall under the National Championships. The senior champions are awarded The Challenge Trophy
Canadian National Challenge Cup
The Challenge Trophy is a national amateur football cup in Canada contested by the champions of individual provincial soccer competitions. It is one of the oldest football competitions in Canada, being held since 1913...
(men) and The Jubilee Trophy (women). Club championships are also organized at the U-18, U-16 and U-14 levels.
Senior level
- Canada men's national soccer teamCanada men's national soccer teamThe Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
- Canada women's national soccer teamCanada women's national soccer teamThe Canada women's national soccer team is overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association. The team reached its all-time high of 6th in the March 2011 rankings. The team reached international prominence finishing in 4th place at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003, losing to their archrival American team...
- Canada men's national beach soccer team
- Canada men's national cerebral palsy soccer team
- Canada men's national futsal team
Youth sides
- Canada men's national under-23 (Olympic) soccer teamCanada men's national youth soccer teamsCanada's men's national soccer teams compete at various age levels, including under-23 , under-20, and under-17. Many of Canada's current internationals have played at one or more of these age levels early in their career, often working with the same coaches and teammates throughout their...
- Canada men's national under-20 soccer team
- Canada women's national under-20 soccer team
- Canada men's national under-17 soccer teamCanada men's national youth soccer teamsCanada's men's national soccer teams compete at various age levels, including under-23 , under-20, and under-17. Many of Canada's current internationals have played at one or more of these age levels early in their career, often working with the same coaches and teammates throughout their...
- Canada women's national under-17 soccer team
Leagues and organizations
- Major League Soccer (MLS)Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
- North American Soccer League (NASL)North American Soccer League (2010)The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...
- Canadian Soccer League (CSL)Canadian Soccer LeagueThe Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
- United Soccer Leagues (USL)United Soccer LeaguesThe United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
See also
- Soccer in CanadaSoccer in CanadaAssociation football, more commonly known in Canada as soccer, is the most popular sport in terms of participation rate. According to FIFA's Big Count, 2,695,712 people played in Canada in 2006.-Terminology:...
- Canada men's national soccer teamCanada men's national soccer teamThe Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
- Canadian soccer pyramidCanadian soccer pyramidThe 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 , which oversees the system and domestic cups but does not operate any of its component leagues...
External links
- Canadian Soccer Referees' Association
- Canada at FIFA site