Canada Soccer Reaches Labour Agreement Framework Amid Ongoing CSB Negotiations

Canada Soccer has reached a "framework" agreement for a collective bargaining deal with its men's and women's national teams, covering the period from June 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027.

However, the agreement hinges on a revised deal with Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), which manages marketing and broadcast rights for Canada Soccer and the Canadian Premier League (CPL).

Kevin Blue, CEO and general secretary of Canada Soccer, announced the progress on Monday, stating that the framework is "equitable across both programs and improves overall financial circumstances for Canada Soccer."

The players have criticized the current CSB agreement, claiming it limits the resources available for national team preparations.

Canada Soccer currently receives approximately $4 million annually under the CSB deal, with an additional $500,000 each year leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

Blue emphasized the need for a revised CSB agreement, saying, "A critical step to finalizing a CBA is a revision to the Canadian Soccer Business deal that will be more favourable to Canada Soccer and will put it on a firm financial footing going forward."

The CSB's investor group and board include CPL owners, and the organization has been a significant factor in Canada Soccer's financial operations.

Blue expressed optimism about reaching a favourable conclusion in the ongoing discussions with CSB.

The Canadian men's team coach, Jesse Marsch, also acknowledged the progress in negotiations, noting a strong alignment between the men's and women's teams and Canada Soccer.

"I think everybody's really excited about the possibility of continuing — and hopeful that we find an agreement with the CSB — so that we can put all of this together for a great agreement for everyone," Marsch said.

The Canadian Soccer Players' Association, representing the women's team, has filed a $40-million lawsuit against 15 current and former board members of Canada Soccer, alleging "negligence and breach of fiduciary duty" over the CSB contract.

The women's previous labour deal expired at the end of 2021, and while they had reached an interim agreement, it was tied to the men's negotiations due to pay equity provisions.

Both teams have experienced a prolonged and contentious labour dispute, including job actions such as the men's boycott of a World Cup warm-up against Panama in June 2022 and the women's brief refusal to train at the SheBelieves Cup in early 2024.

The dispute also led to the resignation of former Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis.

With both national teams' player associations now in alignment with Canada Soccer, the focus remains on securing a restructured CSB deal that will enable all parties to move forward together.

As Canada prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup, the successful finalization of these agreements is seen as a critical step for the future of soccer in the country.