Two prominent soccer execs should not be involved in 2026 when Canada hosts FIFA World Cup, says former member of Whitecaps' women’s team.
A former member of the Vancouver Whitecaps’ women’s team, who blew the whistle in 2019 on Bob Birarda’s return to coaching, told a House of Commons committee Thursday that two prominent Canadian soccer executives should not be involved when Canada co-hosts the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Ciara McCormack testified to the all-party Status of Women committee’s hearing on women and girls in sport that there needs to be a judicial inquiry into the Canadian sport system, including a full investigation of the finances and operations of the Canadian Soccer Association.
“There's a lot of taxpayer money going into FIFA 2026 and there was so much harm done in our situation that hasn't been remedied in any capacity,” McCormack testified.
Former women’s national under-20 head coach and Olympic team assistant coach Birarda pleaded guilty last February to sexually assaulting four players between 1988 and 2008. In November, he was sentenced to 16 months in jail.
McCormack said the roles of former CSA president Victor Montagliani and general secretary Peter Montopoli are particularly problematic, because they were both in power when Birarda was employed in 2008. Montagliani is now a vice-president of FIFA and Montopoli the chief operating officer for the 2026 World Cup matches in Vancouver and Toronto.
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