A complaint was made against the Canadian women’s national team for filming an opponent’s training session at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, which was a qualification tournament for the Women’s World Cup last summer. This revelation is part of the fallout from an alleged drone spying scandal that has shaken Canada, the defending champions. FIFA banned coach Bev Priestman, who had already been sent home from France, for a year and imposed a hefty $226,000 fine on Canada Soccer. Additionally, Soccer’s world governing body docked Canada six points in the Olympics women’s soccer tournament.
Canada is considering an appeal, but the incident has raised concerns about the practices of its men’s and women’s soccer teams and the potential scope of the issue. Canadian officials suspect a “systemic ethical shortcoming.” Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary Kevin Blue mentioned a possible drone incident involving the men’s national team at the recent Copa América. While he stated that it did not impact the tournament’s competitive integrity, he did not provide further details. Men’s coach Jesse Marsch denounced the practice to his staff after the fact.
A complaint at the 2022 W Championship was confirmed by a CONCACAF official, but few details were disclosed. The United States defeated Canada in the tournament final, with both countries securing a spot in the Women’s World Cup and Olympics. The Sports Network in Canada reported additional surveillance incidents at the Tokyo Games, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. FIFA declined to comment on whether there would be a broader investigation into drone spying in soccer.
This case has been a setback for the Canadian federation, especially as the country is set to host the 2026 Men’s World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico. Two Canadian cities, Toronto and Vancouver, will host some of the 104 games in the expanded tournament. The sanctions imposed on Canada are likely to be reviewed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s special Olympic court in Paris.
Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee have expressed their intention to appeal the points deduction. This deduction makes it challenging, but not impossible, for Canada’s women to progress to the knockout round. Former national team player Diana Matheson voiced her support for the current players and emphasized the importance of representing Canada with pride.
The scandal unfolded before the Olympic tournament when New Zealand raised concerns about drones flying over their practice. Two team staff members were sent home as a result. Priestman initially stepped back from coaching duties but was later suspended for the tournament. FIFA initiated a disciplinary inquiry, while Canada Soccer announced an independent review.
The Canadian women’s team, now under interim coach Andy Spence, is aiming to advance to the knockout round despite the point deduction. A win against France and Colombia in the final group match could potentially secure their progression. The team is determined to overcome the challenges they are facing and continue to represent Canada with honor and resilience.
