As Canada is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup along with Mexico and the United States, northern Manitoba’s MP says now is the time for the federal government to invest in youth soccer opportunities in northern and Indigenous communities.

In a press conference, Churchill - Keewatinook Aski MP Niki Ashton explains soccer is the fastest-growing sport in the world and it’s a big part of many Indigenous and northern communities.

Despite this, she says communities are struggling to provide our youth with the same opportunities as those living in major cities, such as infrastructure, equipment, and other resources.

Ashton, along with athletes, coaches, and local soccer organizations from Thompson, Flin Flon, and Opaskwayak Cree Nation, called on the federal Liberals and FIFA to work with our communities to improve access to the sport.