Surrey pursuing national soccer training centre here
Published 9:00 pm Monday, February 9, 2026
Surrey council endorsed a submission package to Canada Soccer on Monday in hopes of seeing a proposed national training centre here, as well as courting the support of Anne Kang, B.C.’s minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport to back the city’s position.
Canada Soccer released its request for information on Dec. 1, 2025 seeking expressions of interest to host a national training centre for “high-performance” soccer.
“As a cornerstone legacy project of the 2026 FIFA World CupTM, the National Training Centre would create a permanent home for Canadian soccer, strengthening national sport infrastructure while supporting player development, coaching education, and community engagement,” Surrey city manager Rob Costanzo explains in his corporate report that came before council on February 9. This request, he noted, is “an early step to identify potential locations and partners and is not a call for formal proposals.”
Costanzo said Canada Soccer wants a “modern, integrated facility that brings together national teams, athlete development, coach and referee education, sports science, and community programs.
“As Canada’s most widely played and fastest-growing sport, soccer lacks a true national home,” he added. Such a centre would aim to fill that gap “while generating lasting benefits in community access, economic development, and national pride.”
The city manager said Surrey has the capacity to take this project on and that the city “fosters a strong and diverse soccer ecosystem” with soccer being one of its most widely-played sports.
”As the fastest growing city in B.C., with unparalleled population growth – especially with the largest youth population in B.C. – Surrey offers the ability to accommodate large sites, benefits from a central regional location with access to major transportation corridors, and is emerging as the next metropolitan centre for investment, talent, and innovation.”
Surrey’s submission package covers potential sites for the centre, a description of the city’s “advantages” vis-à-vis transportation and international connectivity, its local soccer “ecosystem” and success in hosting major soccer tournaments.
Surrey’s package also outlines some candidates for the site, including the 42-acre Cloverdale Athletic Park, 53-acre Newton Athletic Park, 73-acre South Surrey Athletic Park, and 112-acres of privately owned land at 4586-176 Street inside the Agriculture Land Reserve.
Surrey’s submission even covers the local weather, saying its “mild temperatures” enable year-round outdoor training and that it has “cool but manageable winters.”
Mayor Brenda Locke said this is “great news and very exciting for the city of Surrey.
“We’ll look forward to seeing this as it progresses through.”