Project 8 and its Club Owners Look Forward to Collaboration with Canada Soccer’s New President and Board
Details on the remaining markets and league and club brands to be announced in the coming weeks
Toronto, ON (May 4, 2024) - Project 8 and its Club ownership group extends its congratulations to Peter Augruso – the newly elected President of Canada Soccer. Augruso was voted as President today at Canada Soccer’s Annual Meeting of the Members (AMM). Project 8 and its Club ownership group look forward to working with Augruso, along with the new Canada Soccer Board of Directors, as it prepares to launch Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league in 2025.
The future women’s professional league was officially granted Membership at Canada Soccer’s AMM in 2023. Canada Soccer has confirmed that as part of the league membership, all six women's clubs can proceed with operations and preparations for launch in 2025.
Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax have all been named as cities for Project 8 clubs, along with founding partners Canadian Tire Corporation, DoorDash, CIBC and Air Canada. Additional details on the remaining markets and league and club brands will be announced in the coming weeks.
"It’s an exciting time for Canadian soccer, and on behalf of our League ownership group, we are thrilled to have our League be a key pillar of the vision of Canada Soccer going forward. We look forward to working together with Peter and Canada Soccer’s newly elected Board as we work together to create a pathway for the long-term growth and prosperity of women's soccer in Canada," said Diana Matheson, CEO and Co-Founder of Project 8. “Canada Soccer’s tireless support for our League underscores our shared commitment to fostering inclusivity, equity, and excellence in soccer for girls and women at all levels.”
Matheson addressed the Membership at the Meeting in a keynote presentation. Matheson shared the latest information on the growth of women’s professional sports in Canada and in particular the excitement around women’s soccer. She also updated members with the latest developments for the new League which is set to kick-off in spring of 2025. Matheson also addressed the League and Club owners’ commitment to working with Canada Soccer and its members to help grow soccer pathways for girls and women both on the field and in management positions.
In his address to Members, General Secretary Kevin Blue shared Canada Soccer’s unwavering support for Project 8 and the new women’s league, saying “I’m excited to see the game take another step forward by having a tier 1 women’s league in Canada.” Blue expressed support of the clubs’ progress to kick-off and commitment of Canada Soccer to fund the new women’s League in an equal manner to the men’s professional league.
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About Project 8 Sports Inc. & the League
Project 8 Sports Inc. is the foundational start to a new Canadian professional women’s soccer league, which currently consists of six clubs in key Canadian markets and is set to kick-off in spring of 2025. Founded by Diana Matheson and Thomas Gilbert, the league is built by players and supporters of the beautiful game with best practices from around the world and aims to further Canadian excellence in sport and gender equity.
Media Contact:
Greg McIsaac
Junction Communications
greg@junctioncommunications.com