Churchill - Keewatinook Aski MP Niki Ashton is supporting calls from athletes, coaches, and local organizations for the federal government to invest in soccer for Indigenous and Northern youth.

Ashton says recreation saves lives in regions like ours and with Canada co-hosting the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2026, she believes now is as good a time as any to bolster resources to northern and Indigenous communities..........

“It gives young people hope in the face of increasingly challenging, difficult situations.  It gives kids a chance to imagine and dream big beyond the field, beyond their community, beyond even their country and to look at the world.  Canada hosting the world cup is an historic event.  This is the world’s largest single sporting event and the fact that our country is co-hosting this event is nothing short of historic but this is also an opportunity for us as Canadians to showcase that we are a soccer country.”

Ashton, along with athletes, coaches, and soccer organizations from Thompson, Flin Flon, and Opaskwayak Cree Nation called on both Canada and FIFA to support this endeavour by investing in infrastructure, equipment, and other resources to make soccer more accessible and affordable across the country.