soccer

A Canada soccer logo is seen on Alphonso Davies in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, March 24, 2019. A planned training session for Canada’s men’s soccer team was scrapped Friday amid ongoing discussions about player compensation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada men’s soccer training session scrapped amid compensation talks

Dispute in part over how much the athletes will get for playing in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

A Canada soccer logo is seen on Alphonso Davies in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, March 24, 2019. A planned training session for Canada’s men’s soccer team was scrapped Friday amid ongoing discussions about player compensation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Nick Kollias in his backyard in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

‘Soccer is my religion’: Nick Kollias built up the game he loves in northern B.C.

As a child in Greece, Kollias was gifted a soccer ball and the rest is history

Nick Kollias in his backyard in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)
Bayern's Alphonso Davies, front, duels for the ball with Stuttgart's Omar Marmoush during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, Germany, Sunday, May 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst )

Panama replaces Iran as Canada opponent in World Cup warmup

61st-ranked country will be opponent now for Sunday match in Vancouver

Bayern's Alphonso Davies, front, duels for the ball with Stuttgart's Omar Marmoush during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, Germany, Sunday, May 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst )
Photos of some of the victims stand among candles as members of Toronto’s Iranian community attend a vigil in Toronto on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, to mourn victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 that crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. Canada Soccer has cancelled a planned friendly with Iran in the face of growing criticism. At issue is whether Canada should be hosting Iran given the Canadians who died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 when it was shot down on Jan. 8, 2020, minutes after taking off from Tehran, by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Canada Soccer calls off planned friendly match with Iran in face of rising criticism

Soccer Canada gave no reason as it faced criticism tied to Iran’s shooting down of Flight 752 in 2020

Photos of some of the victims stand among candles as members of Toronto’s Iranian community attend a vigil in Toronto on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, to mourn victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 that crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. Canada Soccer has cancelled a planned friendly with Iran in the face of growing criticism. At issue is whether Canada should be hosting Iran given the Canadians who died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 when it was shot down on Jan. 8, 2020, minutes after taking off from Tehran, by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Iranian soccer player Omid Nor Afkan carries his national flag as he celebrates qualifying for 2022 World Cup after defeating Iraq, at the Azadi stadium in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 27, 2022. Canada is set to host Iran in a friendly match in Vancouver on June 5, but controversy about the game has swirled. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Vahid Salemi

Trudeau says CBSA will decide whether Iran soccer team can enter Canada

Prime minister reiterated how he thinks scheduled World Cup tuneup game in Vancouver was a bad idea

Iranian soccer player Omid Nor Afkan carries his national flag as he celebrates qualifying for 2022 World Cup after defeating Iraq, at the Azadi stadium in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 27, 2022. Canada is set to host Iran in a friendly match in Vancouver on June 5, but controversy about the game has swirled. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Vahid Salemi
Former Brazilian player Kaká, left, and former Spanish player Iker Casillas present the Qatar FIFA World Cup trophy during the Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off today with a first-stop event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, May 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

FIFA plans to announce 2026 World Cup sites on June 16

Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto all in the running to host games

Former Brazilian player Kaká, left, and former Spanish player Iker Casillas present the Qatar FIFA World Cup trophy during the Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off today with a first-stop event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, May 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Members of Canada’s national soccer team celebrate after clinching a berth in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier soccer action against Jamaica in Toronto on Sunday March 27, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

PM says inviting Iran to Vancouver soccer friendly is not “a very good idea”

Some call match slap in the face to Canadians who died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

Members of Canada’s national soccer team celebrate after clinching a berth in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier soccer action against Jamaica in Toronto on Sunday March 27, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Canada head coach John Herdman celebrates the team’s win following second half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action against Jamaica, in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will host Iran in a men’s soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadian men to host Iran in June soccer friendly at B.C. Place Stadium

Canada, ranked 38th in the world, and No. 21 Iran are both preparing for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar

Canada head coach John Herdman celebrates the team’s win following second half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action against Jamaica, in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will host Iran in a men’s soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Members of the team during pre-game ceremony, held to recognize the gold-medal winning team, at Starlight Stadium on April 11. (Sheldon Mack/Pacific FC)

Canada ties with Nigeria in Vancouver Island soccer thriller

Canada’s women’s soccer team makes gold medal tour stop in Langford

Members of the team during pre-game ceremony, held to recognize the gold-medal winning team, at Starlight Stadium on April 11. (Sheldon Mack/Pacific FC)
Bayern’s Alphonso Davies controls the ball during the Champions League group E soccer match between Dynamo Kyiv and Bayern Munich, at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann says Canadian star Alphonso Davies should be back within two weeks. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Canada star Alphonso Davies makes return from myocarditis in Champions League match

Davies hadn’t played since Dec. 17 after developing symptoms of myocarditis after a COVID infection

Bayern’s Alphonso Davies controls the ball during the Champions League group E soccer match between Dynamo Kyiv and Bayern Munich, at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann says Canadian star Alphonso Davies should be back within two weeks. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Members of Canada’s national soccer team celebrate after clinching a berth in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier soccer action against Jamaica in Toronto on Sunday March 27, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadian men to face Belgium, Croatia and Morocco in opening round at World Cup

Canadian men are ranked 38th in the world, below the 3 other teams in their group

Members of Canada’s national soccer team celebrate after clinching a berth in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier soccer action against Jamaica in Toronto on Sunday March 27, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Panama’s Eric Davis, left, and Canada’s Tajon Buchanan battle for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Panama City, Panama, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
Panama’s Eric Davis, left, and Canada’s Tajon Buchanan battle for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Panama City, Panama, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
Flags of some of the qualified countries of the World Cup wave at the seafront in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The draw for the World Cup will be held in Doha on April 1.(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

FIFA, Qatar prepare for unprecedented World Cup finals draw

Global health crisis and war in Ukraine combine to make this draw like no other

Flags of some of the qualified countries of the World Cup wave at the seafront in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The draw for the World Cup will be held in Doha on April 1.(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Canada players celebrate their win against Sweden during the women's soccer gold medal game at the Tokyo Olympics in Yokohama, Japan on Friday, August 6, 2021. Canada Soccer has announced the roster for a pair of women's friendly matchups against Nigeria set to take place in B.C. next month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada sets roster for women’s soccer celebration tour in B.C.

Canadians host Nigeria at Vancouver’s B.C. Place and at Starlight Stadium in Langford

Canada players celebrate their win against Sweden during the women's soccer gold medal game at the Tokyo Olympics in Yokohama, Japan on Friday, August 6, 2021. Canada Soccer has announced the roster for a pair of women's friendly matchups against Nigeria set to take place in B.C. next month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Nanaimo United players celebrate a goal in the 118th minute of the Jackson Cup final against Bays United in Langford on Saturday, March 26. (Vancouver Island Soccer League image)

Nanaimo United repeats as Vancouver Island’s Jackson Cup soccer champions

Div. 1 men defeat Bays United 2-1 late in extra time

Nanaimo United players celebrate a goal in the 118th minute of the Jackson Cup final against Bays United in Langford on Saturday, March 26. (Vancouver Island Soccer League image)
Canada’s Cyle Larin (17) celebrates his goal with Richie Laryea against Jamaica during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Canada’s Cyle Larin (17) celebrates his goal with Richie Laryea against Jamaica during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Canada’s goalkeeper Milan Borjan, centre, eyes the ball after Costa Rica’s Celso Borges scored a goal during a World Cup qualifying soccer match in San Jose, Costa Rica, Thursday, March 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
Canada’s goalkeeper Milan Borjan, centre, eyes the ball after Costa Rica’s Celso Borges scored a goal during a World Cup qualifying soccer match in San Jose, Costa Rica, Thursday, March 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
Canadian national soccer team players Paul James (left) and Randy Samuel celebrate the team's 2-1 win over Honduras in St. John's, Nfld. in this 1985 file photo. The win helped propel the Canadians to the World Cup finals in 1986. San Jose, Costa Rica, is a long way from St. John's, N.L., but the two could be intertwined Thursday if the Canadian men beat the Costa Ricans to secure World Cup qualification. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Creagan

Canadian men look to return to World Cup, 37 years after historic win in St. John’s

Remembering soccer team’s historic win in 1985 over Honduras

Canadian national soccer team players Paul James (left) and Randy Samuel celebrate the team's 2-1 win over Honduras in St. John's, Nfld. in this 1985 file photo. The win helped propel the Canadians to the World Cup finals in 1986. San Jose, Costa Rica, is a long way from St. John's, N.L., but the two could be intertwined Thursday if the Canadian men beat the Costa Ricans to secure World Cup qualification. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Creagan
Pacific FC is on the hunt for a new Stewie the Starfish mascot to work the 2022 season. (Courtesy Pacific FC)

A star is born? Pacific FC conducting interviews for new Stewie the Starfish

Oversized purple starfish shoes need filling immediately, says Langford-based soccer club

Pacific FC is on the hunt for a new Stewie the Starfish mascot to work the 2022 season. (Courtesy Pacific FC)
Canada women’s national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman, left, and goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe prepare to pose for a photograph outside B.C. Place stadium after an announcement, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Soccer Canada announced that the women’s team will play Nigeria on April 8 in Vancouver and on April 11 in Langford, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Olympic champion women’s soccer squad bringing celebration tour to B.C.

West Coast gets its chance to give team a heroes’ welcome next month in Vancouver, Langford

Canada women’s national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman, left, and goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe prepare to pose for a photograph outside B.C. Place stadium after an announcement, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Soccer Canada announced that the women’s team will play Nigeria on April 8 in Vancouver and on April 11 in Langford, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck