Members of the Canadian soccer team getting ready for a game.
With the success of professional women’s hockey, a pro women’s soccer league by soon be underway.
The City of Toronto is behind a professional women’s soccer team to represent the City.
Members of City Council at its meeting expressed its support for the establishment of a professional women’s soccer league in Toronto and its commitment to championing gender equity in sport.
Toronto City Council is throwing its support behind a professional women’s soccer team.
Council directed Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department in consultation with FIFA World Cup 2026 to explore the opportunities.
It would “explore opportunities to support the establishment of a professional women’s soccer team in Toronto, including helping to identify potential sites,” Council agreed.
“City Council request the FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto Secretariat to advance growing the participation of women in sport as a key legacy opportunity of hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Toronto,” according to a motion seconded by Mayor Olivia Chow.
Women’s professional soccer is growing and like women’s hockey many say it will be a success.
Women’s professional sports are on the rise in North America, according to Council, and the recent successes of teams as Angel City Football Club in the American National Women’s Soccer League demonstrate that professional women’s sports franchises can draw significant crowds, generate economic activity and build community.
It said Project 8, led by two-time Olympic-medalist Diana Matheson, plans to launch a new Canadian professional women’s soccer league in 2025.
The league is structured to include eight teams across Canada competing in two conferences. Three teams have signed on to the league to-date, including AFC Toronto City, along with teams in Vancouver and Calgary.
Members of our national women’s soccer team can go on and earn a living if there is a professional circuit, as planned.
AFC Toronto City was founded earlier this year by an experienced team committed to growing the game of soccer in Toronto. Currently, AFC Toronto City is seeking a potential home field and associated facilities.
“As the City prepares to welcome the world to Toronto for the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2026, it is important to consider the broader legacy of the tournament,” City officials said.
“A key community-building opportunity is growing the participation of women in soccer,” according to council. “The City can work toward this objective by supporting the establishment of a professional women’s soccer league in Toronto.”