January 6th Edition

Happy New Year! In just 521 days, Canada will co-host the 2026 World Cup.

That tells you just about everything you need to know about the importance of the next 365 days as 2025, even if it isn’t officially a World Cup year, is one of the most important in Canadian Soccer history at every level.

For the first 2025 edition of The Northern Pitch, we will examine the five stories likely to dominate Canadian footy discourse in the year ahead.

We also round up the latest Canadian soccer rumours, some big signings and goals for Canucks across the pond, and plenty more that you may have missed over the holiday season!

In this week's edition:

• 🍁 5 biggest stories heading into 2025

• 🌍 Canucks Abroad

• 🏡 Canucks at Home

• 📰 In Other News

2025 Look Ahead

🍁 The five biggest stories heading into 2025

After an absolutely wild year in Canadian soccer, 2025 is shaping up to be another dramatic one for the sport in this country—ideally with more stories on the pitch than off of it. Here’s a look at five of the biggest ones, and how they will be crucial in shaping the trajectory of the national teams going forward.

1. ⭐️ The NSL’s inaugural season

It’s harder to get more significant than the launch of a new professional league, especially one that has been so needed in this country to keep the Canadian women’s national team at a world-class level. In April, the Northern Super League will begin play in its inaugural season, with six clubs from coast to coast and a significant amount of both domestic and international talent already signed. The branding, and many of the coaches and venues are secured, but there are so many more exciting announcements to come between then and now. When it will truly become real though, is opening day and getting to see this game-changer for the sport in this country kick-off for the first time. Even as the men’s team is a year out from a home World Cup, this is the most important story in Canadian soccer in 2025, and the one that will have the longest impact.

2. 🏆 Can the CanMNT win a trophy in 2025?

There is no doubt that on paper, and in results, this is the most impressive team in Canadian men’s national team history. But trophies leave a legacy, and the so-called ‘Kings of Concacaf’ still haven’t been crowned. In order for this team to take their next step and in some ways secure their legacy as Canada’s true golden generation, a trophy would go a long way. They will have two significant opportunities to do so this year. The best is likely the Concacaf Nations League, which Canada reached the final of in 2022-23, losing 2-0 in the United States.

It won’t be easy, despite finishing as the top seed heading into the semi-finals after a comprehensive victory over Suriname in the quarters, Canada will have to face Mexico at SoFi Stadium on March 20. Win that, and it is likely (although definitely not certain as Panama have defeated them as recently as the Copa América) the three-time defending Nations League champions United States on home soil in the final. Later in the summer, Canada will compete in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, starting June 14, but will likely do so without many of their top stars, as the competition runs concurrently with the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (also in the United States). Porto, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan are all part of the Club World Cup — so Canada could be missing a lot of top talents. Still, it will be a good chance to test the team’s depth, and this Canadian team is still good enough and deep enough now to compete in the region even without their top guys.

3. 🤔 Who is the next coach of the Canadian women’s national team?

This will likely be a year where the women’s national team is not in the spotlight quite as much, with no major tournament on the horizon until the 2026 Concacaf W Championship. But as the next cycle starts for the CanWNT, there will be big questions as to who takes the helm. In some ways, there is no real rush with no truly competitive fixtures this year. But at the same time, these are important windows for the national team — opportunities to integrate new players and tactics leading into 2026 and the 2027 World Cup. Will Canada choose a domestic candidate with many former national team players building up strong resumés? Or will they hire a top international candidate like they did on the women’s side with Jesse Marsch and Kevin Blue has proven to be an excellent recruiter. But getting this right is critical.

4. 📈 How can Canadian Soccer use the lead-up to the World Cup to increase infrastructure and investment?

The next few years are likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canadian soccer. Never will there be a better chance to build infrastructure and receive investment both domestically and from the global soccer market than when the biggest tournament in the world is set to be played on Canadian soil in 2026. Just over a year away from kickoff, this is a crucial time for everyone to work together at every level of the game to maximize opportunities. This includes everything from the grassroots level all the way up to the professional game and the national teams. It is no secret that there hasn’t exactly been alignment in Canadian Soccer between all parties over the past few years, but there is no time more crucial than the present to make sure everyone is on the same page.

5. 🌍 Where do some of the country’s biggest stars end up?

Never mind just Canadian footballing circles, two of the biggest names in global footy transfer rumour circles in recent months have been Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies. Both have been linked with pretty much every major club on the planet with differing levels of interest. Both have also expressed the possibility of staying at Lille and Bayern Munich, respectively. But whatever decision they ultimately make regarding their club careers will have a significant impact on the public perception of Canadian soccer heading into 2026. Another face of that team, meanwhile, Stephen Eustáquio, has been recently linked with AC Milan. This past year was a really big one for movement when it came to the women’s national team, and not too many star players are expected to find new clubs in 2025 — even with the NSL starting. But one key player to watch will be Jade Rose, who graduates from Harvard at the end of this year and will be looking for a professional opportunity, potentially in Europe. Good club situations are critical for national team success, so where some of the most important CanMNT and CanWNT ballers play most of the year will be a big story this year.

Canucks Abroad

🌍 Canucks Abroad

🇫🇷 Jonathan David and Moïse Bombito ended the year impressively. Stats have been released about each CanMNT player’s stats in 2024. JD ended the year as one of the elite forwards, finishing with 47 goals and assists, fourth in Europe with Kylian Mbappé in third, Harry Kane and Mohammed Salah in first. Elite stat. Moïse Bombito finished 2024 with an impressionable statistic in his freshman year in Europe. Bombito has made a serious impression in Ligue 1 and finished the year as the fastest player in Europe. His top speed was clocked at 36.2 km/h. Mbappé finished third in this category at 36.0 km/h. Canadian ballers left a mark in 2024.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Liverpool interested in Davies and David? Liverpool are having an incredible season in the Premier League so far. Still, the next season will present challenges as Andrew Robertson shows signs of decline. While Mohammed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold will likely leave in the summer. Moreover, Darwin Núñez could be on the move in the January transfer window. It is rumoured that Liverpool are interested in Alphonso Davies in the summer. It’ll address the fullback void or perhaps take Salah’s spot. The latter is unlikely. Jonathan David has also been linked to the Merseyside club. As reported by Mirror Football, it is rumoured that JD will replace Darwin Núñez if the Uruguyan’’s link to AC Milan comes to fruition.

🇮🇹 Eustaquio to Milan? Former Porto manager Sérgio Conceição has been appointed AC Milan’s new gaffer. Shortly after the appointment, it is reportedly interested in reuniting with his former midfielder at the San Siro. It is interesting as Conceição had benched Staqs back in Porto. Maybe things have changed? One thing is for sure: Tajon and Staqs might be neighbours soon.

🇮🇹 Speaking of Tajon. TJ and Inter Milan have reached the Coppa Italia final. Inter Milan defeated Atalanta 2-0 to book their spot in the cup final against rivals AC Milan.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Clarissa Larisey on the move? CanWNT forward has reportedly garnered the attention of WSL clubs Liverpool, Leicester City and Crystal Palace. A move away from Sweden to England is enticing. Moreover, having two Canadians apply their trade at Liverpool is attractive. If JD and Phonzy go to Liverpool, four Canadians will be at the same club. As of now, Larissey has 15 goals in 59 games for BK Häcken.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jamie Knight-Lebel scored his first senior goal(s). The CanMNT CB youngster registered his first professional goal for Crewe Alexandra against national team teammate Tom McGill and MK Dons in League Two action. Then, a week later on the other side of the new year, JKL would find his second for the club, via a header in a 4-1 win over Bromley.

🇮🇹 Mia Pante signed with AS Roma. The 21-year-old Vancouver fullback signed with Roma from Texas A&M. Mia Pante won the bronze medal at the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s U20 Championship and also featured for Canada in the 2022 Women’s U20 World Cup. Mia Pante will be joining Evelyne Viens at AS Roma.

🇳🇱 Charles-Andréas Brym finds a new home. Brym has made the move from Sparta Rotterdam to Almere City. Both clubs are in the relegation zone, with Almere City being second to last with three points behind Sparta Rotterdam. Almere are currently coached by Brym’s former head coach who brought the forward to Sparta.

🇪🇺 Mo Farsi to Europe? The Columbus Crew MLS champion and Montreal baller has been rumoured to be headed to England or France. Specifically, Farsi has been linked to English Championship club Backburn Rovers and Ligue 1 club Saint-Étienne. Canadian ballers to France is a trend that we rate.

🇵🇹 Dieu-Merci Michel scored his first professional goal. The heavens opened up, and Dieu-Merci Michel found the back of the net against Sporting Lisbon. In his second match for Vitoria, he scored his club’s fourth goal against Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. The match ended 4-4, but the rise of the Montréal-born Edmonton baller is something we’re excited to watch.

Follow Canucks Abroad on Twitter, Bluesky and Instagram.

Canucks at Home

🏡 Canucks at Home

✈️ Matteo de Brienne is now a Canuck Abroad. We decided to put him in this section as a farewell gesture. Atletico Ottawa's fullback has agreed to sign with the Swedish Allsvenskan club GAIS. Pending a medical, he is the latest CPL talent to leave Canada for Europe. Welcome to the Canucks Abroad club!

🔱 Aidan Daniels and Ronan Kratt joined Pacific FC. PFC has signed two players in the off-season: Aidan Daniels from the Halifax Wanderers and Ronan Kratt from York United. Both Daniels and Kratt have signed a two-year contract with an option for 2027.

🦉 Calgary Wild name Lydia Bedford as head coach. NSL club were also busy over the holiday break, leading with Calgary completing the inaugural slate of NSL head coaches. Bedford arrives with WSL and Premier League pedigree, having had stints with Arsenal, Leicester City and Brentford.

🌊 Saorla Miller inks a deal with Halifax Tides. Out east, the Tides also revealed their third signing in club history. Former University of Memphis midfielder/forward Saorla Miller adds to an intriguing group, arriving from Icelandic top division club Keflavík.

🐦 New arrivals soon to come in Ottawa. The final club yet to announce their introductory player signing are soon to have the major milestone checked off their to-do lists. The Rapid unveiled an updated version of their launch video, complete with player highlights to tease their upcoming signings, the first of which is set to be made public on Monday (January 6th).

Follow Canucks At Home on Twitter, Bluesky and Instagram.

Other news

📰 In Other News

👀 Mark Noonan has an eye on CS Saint-Laurent. The CPL commissioner and CSB president joined Noel Butler in Montréal on TSN 690. Noonan has expressed that CS Saint-Laurent is the perfect candidate for the CPL’s first Quebecois club. The details and criteria required for this can be read in the picture above. The bottom line is that a worthy investor is needed to bring this L1 QC club into the CPL. Another location in Québec where Noonan wished to see a club formed is in Québec City. However, Laval, north of Montréal, is another viable market.

🔵 CF Montréal announced Marco Donadel as the new assistant coach. MTL have welcomed the return of former Montréal Impact player Marco Donadel as assistant to head coach Laurent Courtois. After spending some time as a youth coach, assistant and head coach in various clubs at different levels in Europe, he returns to MTL. CFM have also announced that Kobié Johnson and Ludovic Taillandier will be assistant coaches, along with Vincenzo Benvenuto as the new goalkeeper coach.

✍️ MTL have signed Fabian Herbers. The veteran MLS midfielder has signed a two-year deal with Bleu-Blanc-Noir as a free agent. The former Chicago Fire player is a wise transfer for the club. Herbes’ experience will complement Nathan Saliba and Samuel Piette in the middle of the park. Nilton Jorge provided a graph showing that Herbes resembles 2023 Mathieu Choinière. 

🔄 More CF MTL transfer news! In our last edition, we mentioned that MTL have drafted highly rated Ohio State forward Michael Adedokun. The draftee has put pen to paper as he officially signed with the Montréal to a one-year deal and three option years for 2026, 2027, and 2028. The Nigerian-born baller was the 2024 Player of the Year in NCAA Division 1 soccer. Adedokun racked up 11 goals and 11 assists and helped his team win the 2024 Big Ten Tournament.

🔴 Insigne & TFC set to part ways. After what can at best be described as a tumultuous tenure, Lorenzo Insigne and Toronto FC are reportedly set to part ways this winter. He could return to Europe, or potentially land in the Middle East during the transfer window. Arrivederci.