MISSISSAUGA, ON | October 21 - The Spirit of the Pitch is officially coming alive for Indigenous youth across Ontario. Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) is proud to announce a monumental milestone: securing an unprecedented $950,000 from the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Toronto Legacy Program to launch a transformative, province-wide soccer initiative.

This milestone $950,000 initiative is made possible through the Ontario Ministry of Sport, funded out of the province’s landmark $2.5 million investment dedicated to Indigenous Capacity Funding under the Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA) with the City of Toronto for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. While this foundational agreement and legacy allocation anchor the initial three years of programming, ISWO is leveraging the investment through corporate sponsorships, private partnerships, and multi-sector collaborations to expand the initiative into a comprehensive, 5-year sustainable development pathway. Drawing on ISWO’s proven track record of creating a powerful multiplier effect with public investment, this multi-year commitment ensures the creation of an enduring, permanent soccer framework for Indigenous youth across Ontario.

“We at ISWO are deeply appreciative of this investment and the vital leadership of the Ontario Ministry of Sport, whose dedicated $2.5 million commitment toward Indigenous Capacity Funding directly enables this legacy to take root,” said Frank Horn, President of ISWO. “Receiving $950,000 from the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Toronto Legacy Program creates a significant opportunity for our youth – the future leaders of our communities. Spirit of the Pitch goes far beyond technical soccer development. It will be delivered through an Indigenous wellness and cultural framework that recognizes sport as medicine. By connecting physical activity, culture, and community, we are fostering a strong sense of belonging while developing the next generation of community builders, role models, and sport leaders.”

Work on this pathway is already well underway. On September 19, ISWO officially became an Associate Member of Ontario Soccer, formalizing joint efforts to build a dedicated Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) plan tailored for Indigenous youth across Ontario. Further details, along with additional strategic partnerships, will be formally launched during a special celebration on October 28 at BMO Field.

To multiply the reach, effectiveness, and legacy of this investment, ISWO’s collaborative funding approach maximizes the direct return back into communities. As the designated Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body for Ontario, ISWO already hosts dozens of sport clinics, tryouts, and camps every year across the province, serving as the vital bridge between Métis, Inuit, and more than 133 First Nation communities and the mainstream Canadian sport system.

This landmark funding recognizes ISWO's operational excellence, strategic execution, provincial delivery system, and partnerships built over years of delivering beyond expectations. By utilizing its existing staff, extensive community network, and established infrastructure, ISWO ensures an exceptionally lean workflow, directing the vast majority of all funding straight toward on-the-ground youth programming, coach and referee training, and local community access.

“This funding gives us an incredible opportunity to build a sustainable, grassroots-to-high-performance development pathway designed specifically for Indigenous youth, and grounded in culture,” says Zach Fraleigh-Whiteye, Sr. Manager of Sport & Wellness for ISWO. “We’ve seen the profound impact of this model with our basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse programs, which have grown into highly anticipated provincial tournaments. Bringing that same culturally rooted structure to soccer will be a game-changer for athlete development across the province.”

A Culturally Rooted, 5-Year Vision
The Spirit of the Pitch initiative leverages the global momentum of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ window to establish a sustainable, lifelong connection to soccer. The program’s 5-year roadmap includes:

• Year 1 (2026): Awareness & Activation – Launching foundational skills camps and clinics across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) in collaboration with key provincial sport partners. Indigenous youth will also be energized through exclusive opportunities to experience major games, events, and activations firsthand.

• Year 2 (2027): Capacity & Grassroots Growth – Distributing $100,000 in community soccer micro-grants directly to local champions; establishing a robust soccer coaching and officiating certification program for Indigenous leaders; and expanding clinics and camps outside the GTHA to broaden provincial reach.

• Year 3 (2028): Regional Excellence & Interprovincial Collaboration – Hosting regional training camps, high-performance clinics, and regional tournaments for Indigenous youth. Athletes will transition to elite competition through events like the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) and identified development streams.

• Year 4 (2029): Provincial Leadership & Major Games – Hosting a provincial tournament/Games in Toronto (projected to drive a $5M–$7M economic impact), centring soccer as a flagship competitive stream with specialized elite youth development structures.

• Year 5 (2030): National Legacy & Sustainability – Launching the National Indigenous Soccer Invitational in Ontario, establishing the province as the premier hub for high-performance Indigenous soccer while finalizing long-term technical coaching and referee certifications rooted in communities.

Advancing Reconciliation: Answering TRC Call to Action #89
A central pillar of the initiative remains its direct alignment with Truth and Reconciliation. Spirit of the Pitch serves as a tangible, direct operational response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action #89, which urges the sport system to ensure policies promote physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport, and build capacity in the Canadian sport system for Indigenous peoples.

Through community clinics, leadership opportunities, and accessible provincial pathways, the initiative embodies reconciliation in action by ensuring Indigenous youth have barrier-free access to sport, recreation, and holistic wellness.

Strategic Collaborations for Maximum Impact
To deliver professional-grade, sanctioned programming, ISWO is collaborating directly with major sports organizations. Through its associate membership with Ontario Soccer, ISWO will align its programming calendar to bring certified clinics directly into Indigenous communities.

“Ontario Soccer looks forward to working with ISWO as we formalize our partnership to provide leadership and support to build Futsal and Soccer programming in Indigenous communities throughout Ontario,” said Johnny Misley, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Soccer.

ISWO continues active discussions with professional sports organizations and corporate partners to scale long-term community benefits. Future phases will feature high-performance academy bridging opportunities, community celebrations, and long-term regional infrastructure investments, including the possibility of multi-sport pitches outside the GTA. Every technical clinic will integrate ISWO's nationally acclaimed Standing Bear Leadership Program, empowering youth to thrive as visible role models.

Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario Quick Facts:

• ISWO is the designated Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body for the province of Ontario, primarily funded through the Ministry of Sport and the Government of Canada, through Sport Canada.

• ISWO serves all Indigenous Peoples and communities across the province of Ontario, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, living on and off-reserve, in rural and urban settings, encompassing more than 430,000 Indigenous Peoples.

• ISWO promotes and creates opportunities for participation in sport, cultural, and leadership activities that promote wellness and positive lifestyles for Indigenous Peoples across Ontario.

• ISWO provides opportunities for physical literacy and competitive sport skill development and training by creating sport development pathways, designed specifically for Indigenous youth.

• ISWO is recognized by the Aboriginal Sport Circle and the North American Indigenous Games Council, and is the designated sport body for the development, selection and management of Team Ontario, which participates in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships and North American Indigenous Games.

Acknowledgement

ISWO honours the traditional lands and homelands of all Indigenous Peoples and communities across the province of Ontario, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis living both on and off reserve, in rural and urban communities.

Contact Information
Abby Shirazi, Senior Advisor, Major Projects
Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario
abidahshirazi@gmail.com