Project 8 (soccer league)

Project 8 is a planned Division I professional women's soccer league in Canada. The league is owned and operated by Project 8 Sports, Inc., an entity co-founded by former Canada women's national soccer team player Diana Matheson, who also serves as its chief executive officer.[1]

Project 8
Organizing bodyProject 8 Sports, Inc.
FoundedDecember 6, 2022 (2022-12-06)
First season2025
CountryCanada
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of teams3 (announced)
8 (planned)
Level on pyramid1 (proposed)
Sponsor(s)
Websitewww.project8.ca

History
Former Canadian national team player Diana Matheson co-founded Project 8 Sports, Inc., in June 2022 and led it from its launch

Upon her retirement from professional soccer in July 2021, Matheson began advocating for both a national domestic women's league and National Women's Soccer League team in Canada.[2] Her early plans specified a six-month professional league with player leadership, and cited her experience with the Ottawa Fury and Vancouver Whitecaps of the defunct USL W-League as examples of what Canada lacked in player development opportunities.[3] Matheson entered Queen's University at Kingston to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree in August 2021,[2] and enrolled in the UEFA Executive Master for International Players program toward sports administration.[4]

In December 2021, Matheson presented a plan for women's soccer in Canada to the Canadian Soccer Association, but discussions did not progress. While attending Queen's, Matheson co-founded Project 8 Sports, Inc., in June 2022 with master's classmate Thomas Gilbert and began planning a professional domestic women's soccer league. Matheson formally announced the league on 5 December 2022 on The National alongside former national-team teammate Christine Sinclair, who advised the group. The announcement included the league's first two teams in the Whitecaps and Calgary Foothills WFC, and first two sponsors in CIBC and Air Canada. She also announced talks with Toronto FC owners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and CF Montreal, both of Major League Soccer, and a target of May 2024 for sanctioning from Canada Soccer.[4] Matheson named Dome Productions as the league's initial broadcast production partner.[5]

In January 2023, Matheson noted that talks had also included independent and foreign ownership groups, and announced franchise fees of $1 million with an expectation of owners investing $10 million total over the first five seasons,[6] with entry including equity in the league itself.[7] She also detailed limits on foreign players to seven per team, and suggested that the new league would not deal with Canada Soccer Business, the entity that owns broadcast rights to the Canadian Premier League men's soccer competition.[6]

On 26 April 2023, Project 8 announced the league's third team, AFC Toronto City, with an independent ownership group composed of people on the board of North Toronto Soccer Club (NTSC) competing in League1 Ontario, though the Project 8 team would not be formally affiliated with the NTSC organization. The initial announcement did not include participation from Toronto FC or MLSE.[8]

Teams

The league has announced three of the league's eight planned teams for its inaugural season scheduled for 2025, to play in two conferences.

Team City StadiumCapacity FoundedJoining Ownership Ref.
Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver
TBA
2001
2025
 Vancouver Whitecaps FC [1]
Calgary Foothills WFC Calgary
TBA
1972
2025
 Calgary Foothills FC [1]
AFC Toronto City Toronto
TBA
2023
2025
  • Helena Ruken (CEO)
  • Brenda Ha (COO)
  • Jill Burgin (CMO)
  • Mike Ruthard
  • Billy Wilson
  • Shamez Mangalji
 [8]

Location map
Project 8 (soccer league) is located in Canada
Vancouver
Vancouver
Calgary
Calgary
Toronto
Toronto
Announced club

References
  1. Dichter, Myles (5 December 2022). "Christine Sinclair, Diana Matheson reveal pro Canadian women's soccer league set for kickoff in 2025". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  2. "Canadian Diana Matheson retires, looks forward to post-soccer challenges". SportsNet. The Canadian Press. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  3. Yang, Steph (8 July 2021). "Diana Matheson has big plans for Canadian soccer after announcing the end to her playing career". The Athletic. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  4. Molinaro, John (7 December 2022). "Matheson again at the forefront in big moment for Canadian women's soccer". SportsNet. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  5. Matheson, Diana (7 December 2022). "Diana Matheson on the revenue, investment and stadium prospects for new Canadian women's league" (Interview). Interviewed by Joshua Kloke and Steph Yang. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. "Matheson says support growing for proposed Canadian women's soccer league". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Press. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  7. Davidson, Neil (17 July 2023). "Matheson hopes World Cup further raises profile of women's game, boosts new Canadian league". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  8. Davidson, Neil (26 April 2023). "Canadian women's pro soccer league signs on AFC Toronto City". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
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