From one World Cup to the next: Canada Soccer continues to expand opportunities for women in the game

Laval, Quebec – As Canadians reflect on a summer that brought the global game to home soil, Canada Soccer is already looking ahead to what comes next.

Building on the momentum generated by the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Canada Soccer is committed to ensuring that the excitement and inspiration created by the tournament translate into lasting growth across the game through continued investment in the people, programs and pathways that help strengthen soccer nationwide. As the organization looks toward the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027™, ensuring more women can develop and thrive across coaching, officiating, leadership and the professional game remains a key priority.

That work was on display last week in Laval, where 30 women coaches and five elite women referees from across Canada came together for development opportunities designed to strengthen pathways for women throughout the soccer system.

The week provided an opportunity to advance the development of women working across different areas of the game while highlighting the importance of continued investment in the people who help build a stronger soccer community across the country.

“Major events like the World Cup create incredible momentum for our game. Building on that momentum means continuing to invest in coaches, referees and leaders so more women have opportunities to grow, lead and contribute across every level of soccer.”
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​-Sara McConaghy, Director, Community & Sport Inclusion

Thirty women coaches from across Canada gathered in Laval to complete the second in-person phase of Canada Soccer's AccelerateHER B Diploma.

As one of Canada Soccer's flagship coach development initiatives, AccelerateHER was created to address barriers that have historically limited women's access to and progression through advanced coach education. The program provides women coaches with access to a high-performance, all-women learning environment, mentorship opportunities and a national network of peers to support their continued development within Canada's coaching pathway.

The B Diploma was delivered by four women Coach Developers, providing participants with the opportunity to learn from experienced leaders while increasing the visibility of women delivering advanced coach education across Canada.

Together, these investments are helping increase opportunities for women coaches to progress within the game while building stronger networks of support for the next generation of coaches.

Developing Elite Women Referees

Alongside the coach development program, Canada Soccer welcomed five Canadian women referees to Laval to complete their required FIFA fitness assessments ahead of upcoming international appointments. Four of the referees have earned appointments to upcoming FIFA competitions, including the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

“Preparing for international competition is a matter of dedication, resilience and a commitment to continuous learning. I hope by seeing more women represented on the field and in leadership roles, the next generation will know there is a place for them at every level of the game. We don’t need the standards to be lowered; we simply need access to the opportunities.” ​
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​ -Myriam Marcotte, Canadian FIFA Referee

The assessments represent an important milestone in preparing referees for the demands of international competition and reflect Canada's continued commitment to developing world-class referees capable of representing the country on the global stage.

But creating opportunities for women referees extends beyond individual appointments. Guided by Close the Gap, Canada Soccer's Women and Girls Strategy, Canada Soccer continues to identify opportunities to expand access to development, mentorship and preparation, helping strengthen the pathways that enable women referees to advance and excel at every level of the game.

The impact of those pathways was visible on 23 July, when the week's activities culminated at the Montreal Roses' Northern Super League match with an all-women officiating crew.

For many AccelerateHER participants in attendance, the match offered a tangible demonstration of the opportunities available to women across coaching, officiating and leadership. After spending the week in an advanced coach education environment, seeing women lead on the field within Canada's professional game reinforced the importance of representation — and the impact it can have on the next generation.

Building Momemtum Across the Women's Game

The activities in Laval are one part of broader momentum across the women's game in Canada, as new opportunities and pathways continue to emerge for women and girls at every level.

The continued expansion of the Northern Super League is creating more opportunities for Canadian players to compete professionally at home. At the same time, the inaugural W Canadian Championship has established Canada's first domestic pathway to the Concacaf W Champions Cup and, ultimately, the FIFA Women's Club World Cup.

Looking Ahead

Every FIFA World Cup inspires a new generation of players, fans and leaders. As Canada Soccer looks ahead to the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027™, expanding opportunities for women and girls across the game remains a key priority.

The progress highlighted in Laval last week is just one example of the work taking place across the country to strengthen pathways for women in coaching, officiating, leadership and the professional game

From one World Cup to the next, Canada Soccer is investing in the people who will shape what comes next — building a stronger, more inclusive future for soccer in Canada.