Canada soccer popularity surges after 2026 World Cup

A poll of 1,500 Canadian adults commissioned by Canada Soccer shows the sport’s popularity rising across every age group. Soccer has overtaken baseball as the nation’s second‑most‑favoured sport behind hockey, and it is the top sport among adults aged 18‑29. Seventy‑nine percent of respondents followed the men’s national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making the team the seventh‑most popular male sports team in the country, while the women’s team ranks second among female teams after Hockey Canada.

Capitalising on the momentum, Oceanside Football Club in British Columbia launched the H.E.L.P. (Hello Everyone, Let’s Play) programme. The initiative runs weekly youth sessions for U7‑U14 players and an adult six‑a‑side league, and it has petitioned local authorities for a full‑size, all‑weather field to provide year‑round recreation for the community. Club officials say the new facilities will help sustain the post‑World Cup enthusiasm for soccer across the region.