Women's soccer community hopes to reap benefits of men's World Cup legacy in Canada

Legacy is a word that has been thrown around ahead of the FIFA men’s World Cup. Soccer is the most played youth sport in Canada and this month’s event is a great opportunity to build and amplify the sport in a country known more for greatness on ice than on a grassy pitch. 

With Canada Soccer set to receive a $9.8 million boost toward the building of a national training and development centre, there are plans to build the sport and continue on construction projects to renovate and update existing stadia. 

Canada Soccer has admitted there has been a gap in Canada. "For years, Canada has been one of the few major soccer nations in the world without a dedicated national training centre," Canada Soccer president Peter Augruso said. "At a time where the game is growing rapidly across every corner of this country, this gap has become impossible to ignore."

There have been initiatives such as the “Soccer for All Legacy Program,” the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and the federal government committing to build 25 pitches across Canada. 

There will be massive amounts of media attention for a men’s World Cup at home, with an abundance of stories and experiences that become core memories for fans in Canada. The men’s team is getting a lot of attention, with storylines surrounding the recently named squad and how head coach Jesse Marsch will lead the team during the tournament. There are hopes and dreams connected to Canada’s performance, though not exclusively for the men's game. Women and girls are sharing their own hopes and dreams.

Jesse Marsch explains Canada’s World Cup roster & World Cup chances

How will the legacy affect the women’s game in Canada? Canada is continuing to gain attention with home-grown stars such as