Sidney Crosby takes on Canada Soccer role ahead of FIFA World Cup
Sidney Crosby will go down as one of the greatest Canadian athletes of all-time, with an international career that already boasts two Olympic gold medals, a World Championship, a World Cup of Hockey and a Four Nations Face-Off win.
But, the Pittsburgh Penguins center set to don a different Canada shirt next summer, becoming an ambassador for Canada Soccer ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament will be hosted in Toronto and Vancouver, as well as 14 other cities across the United States and Mexico.
Crosby, 39, has been a Canadian soccer fan in the past. In 2024, he travelled to Arlington, Texas to watch the Canadian men’s national soccer team at the Copa América.
After Canada defeated Venezuela, Crosby went down to the locker room to celebrate with the players– many of whom, despite playing for some of the world’s biggest soccer teams, were star-struck.
“It was a rollercoaster,” Crosby told The Athletic of the game, which Canada won in a shootout to advance to a semifinal against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. “I feel like there’s been a lot more eyeballs, a lot more attention on this team.”
“With the games that they’ve put together, they’re only going to get more and more attention. It’s fun to see. They deserve it. It seems like they’re a really great group of guys.”
On Tuesday, he became one of the first people named to Canada Soccer’s Iconic XI, which will see 11 “influential cultural leaders at the intersection of entertainment, sport, fashion, music, media, and the arts,” to stand with the Canadian squad and “rally their country behind them,” according to the announcement.
Canada who’s proud??? Look who dropped by to congratulate the team! Argentina here we come!! @thevoyageurs @footy_prime @onesoccer @CanadaSoccerEN @OntarioIsSoccer @CANSoccerDaily @craigforrest1 pic.twitter.com/NsxCERr8eO
— Peter Augruso (@PeterAugruso) July 6, 2024“I’m excited to partner with Canada Soccer as they launch their Iconic XI ambassador program ahead of the FIFA World Cup,” Crosby said. “It’s always an honor to represent Canada on the national stage, and I’m happy to support my fellow Canadian athletes. I’ll be cheering for them along the way.”
Alongside Crosby, actor Simu Liu and singer Shawn Mendes were also announced as the first Icon XI members. Additionally, Canada Soccer has introduced a World Cup-themed album project that will feature The Tragically Hip, Alessia Cara, Charlotte Cardin, Loud Luxury, Nelly Furtado, and Zeds Dead, among others.
Canada will kick off the tournament on June 12 in Toronto, before playing its final two group stage games in Vancouver– and you can bet Crosby will be there.