Canada Soccer and the National Team Players Associations announce new Collective Bargaining Agreement
Canada Soccer and the players' associations representing Canada’s Men’s and Women’s National Teams have officially announced the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement, marking the end of years of negotiations.
As revealed in the press release for the reveal, the principal terms of an agreement have been in place for such an agreement since June 2024, with this announcement just confirming the framework that has governed this relationship. Thus, the agreement in place is effective from June 1st, 2024, and will go through December 31st, 2027.
Canada Soccer and National Team Players Associations Ratify Collective Bargaining Agreement ⬇️
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) March 31, 2026
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When looking at the agreement, base compensation, performance-based bonuses, commercial terms, travel and accommodation standards, ticket revenue sharing and parental benefits are among the provisions that are included in the terms.
Additionally, it is noted that the agreement is fully equitable in terms of compensation opportunities and benefits for both National Teams, further showing Canada Soccer’s commitment to alignment across both programs.
As part of the terms of this agreement, the players cannot go on strike, whereas Canada Soccer cannot lock out the players, ensuring that both parties return to the bargaining table to ratify the next CBA in 2028.
Otherwise, some further notes from the agreement show that Canada Soccer must commit to holding camps for both teams in every available window, ensuring that they call up a minimum of 23 players in each camp (or the maximum number of players allowed if the squad is smaller than 23, as it is at the Olympics). On top of that, travel and accommodations for the players have been standardized, based on the camp (IE if it's a major tournament, or friendlies).
In terms of compensation, base fees will be allocated for each camp, tiered based on the significance of each ‘event’, along with potential bonuses. For example, for a World Cup game, players would receive $25,000 per match, whereas players would earn $2,500 per match for friendlies - and the rest of the competitions they play are tiered based on significance.
From there, depending on their performances in tournaments, the prize money for advancing to the knockout rounds will be distributed between Canada Soccer and the players - again, to use the World Cup as an example, Canada Soccer would receive 50% of that prize money, and both the men's and women's associations would split the other 50% evenly between them.
Additionally, for the 2026 Men’s and 2027 Women’s World Cup, players will be offered a base sum to assist with travel and accommodation for friends and family, with that sum rising per additional game the team plays in the tournament.
Furthermore, any use of player likeness for Name and Image Licensing (NIL) purposes will require the permission of the implicated players in such a scenario.
For the full details of the agreement, you can find all of the relevant information here.
