Boi-1da is producing Canadian album for FIFA World Cup
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Producer Boi-1da is working with Canada Soccer on a new album featuring Canadian artists.
It is set to release on June 5, ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Proceeds from the album will go to programs that help make soccer more affordable for kids facing financial challenges.
It can cost thousands of dollars a year for one person to play competitive youth soccer.
Keep reading to learn more about the challenges soccer players face. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
When 16-year-old Miles Mewa decided to quit competitive soccer, it was the hardest decision he had to make in his life.
Miles, who lives in Bolton, Ontario, had been playing for more than a decade, but he said he quit because it was getting too expensive.
Miles said that his family spent more than $10,000 per year for him to play this sport.
If he didn’t give up playing, his younger brothers would never have a chance to develop in soccer.
“It’s really heartbreaking that such young people have to deal with such adult problems over a literal game,” said Miles.
According to a 2025 report from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, soccer is the most popular sport for youth in Canada. But financial barriers are still serious obstacles for kids who want to play competitively.
So Canada Soccer, the official governing body for the sport in Canada, is collaborating with Grammy-winning producer Boi-1da on an album that will raise awareness about the issue, and raise funds to help more kids play.
The album, titled What If It All Goes Right?, comes out on June 5, just ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
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Canada Soccer named Boi-1da as the country’s first national teams music ambassador. (Image submitted by Boi-1da)
Soccer and music
Boi-1da has produced hits for artists like Drake, Eminem and Rihanna.
The producer said sports drives music and vice versa.
“Athletes are always listening to music and inspired by music, hyped up by music,” Boi-1da told CBC Kids News.
He said he created the album with input from players on the national team. For example, he included a song in French after francophone player Ismaël Koné expressed that the French language is part of the country’s culture.
“What we wanted to do was to make music that represents the country — the different facets, different races and different cultures of it,” said the music producer.
The album will feature songs from Canadian artists such as Sophie Powers, Nelly Furtado and the Tragically Hip.
The album, titled What If It All Goes Right?, includes songs by Canadian musicians for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. (Image submitted by Boi-1da)
According to a news release from Canada Soccer, proceeds from the album will help fund community soccer programs, offer financial assistance for players who need it, and strengthen development pathways that lead talented young players to the national teams.
“We want to focus on really ensuring that Canadian youth can participate in soccer by providing financial assistance, but also other community-driven initiatives that really focus on reducing some of the barriers to entry in soccer,” said Samantha Rogers, who oversees philanthropy projects at Canada Soccer.
As a soccer dad of his 15-year-old daughter, Boi-1da said he has witnessed many kids not being able to participate in the sports due to a lack of resources.
“Seeing talented kids not being able to play the sport really hits home for me,” he said.
Why is soccer so expensive?
According to Jumpstart’s research, it costs an average of about $1,100 a year for a Canadian kid to play soccer.
About 75 per cent of families spend less than $300 a year for a kid to play soccer. But for kids playing at a competitive level, the average cost is more than $2,000 a year — and it can get a lot higher.
“It costs thousands of dollars just to play on elite teams,” said Murray Mollard, a former university soccer player and director of the B.C. Soccer Association, as well as a soccer dad.
He analyzed the Canadian men’s national soccer program in a recent book, called Winning Pitch.
Mollard said that when his son participates in tournaments, there’s always extra costs — such as airfare, hotels and other travel expenses.
“There are many families that can’t afford that,” he said.
Miles Mewa is one of many Canadian kids who had to drop out of soccer due to financial barriers. (Image submitted by Miles Mewa)
To continue chasing his dream without adding more pressure to his family’s finances, Miles said that he could try to join a professional league so he could get sponsors.
But even trying out for those leagues can cost a lot of money.
Miles said private organizations hold showcases for coaches to find talented players, but the entrance fees for those events are still costly.
“I’d say truly, the most talented people are having trouble accessing those showcases, because there is still a barrier, and a lot of people getting held back,” said Miles.
Mollard said that all those pricey fees are examples of Canada’s “pay-to-play” model for youth soccer.
This means that many players who could be good enough to play for their country won’t get the chance.
“The children’s financial background should not matter. You can be a great player if you have physiological talents,” he said.
A younger Miles Mewa, right, with his brother Owen Mewa, left, and dad David Mewa, centre. Miles says his family’s finances were strained when he and his two brothers all played soccer, so he quit. (Image submitted by David Mewa)
What impact can the World Cup bring to Canadian soccer?
The FIFA World Cup starts on June 11, and Canada is one of the host countries.
“I hope that with more enthusiasm, there will be more investment in the sport, more financial support for soccer in Canada,” said Mollard.
Miles said he doesn’t expect the World Cup will change Canadian soccer overnight. But he hopes it will be one of many initiatives that will help make soccer cheaper in Canada.
“I hope in the future, it will just be normalized for a good player to play for a good team,” said Miles.
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