A first in Canada between a professional soccer club and a provincial federation
The Montreal Impact and Soccer Québec announced on Thursday a new partnership to improve the growth of our sport in Quebec.
“This partnership represents the union of two essential soccer entities in Quebec and this historic cooperation seemed absolutely normal to us,” said Montreal Impact president and CEO Kevin Gilmore. “The Montreal Impact and its players inspire young Quebecers to play soccer. Soccer Québec creates the platforms and oversees boys and girls who want to become great soccer players. We are delighted to be able to now work together to make this province a real force in amateur and professional soccer.”
“It’s a great day for soccer in Quebec,” rejoiced Soccer Québec president Pierre Marchand. “Soccer Québec is very happy to unite its strengths with the Impact’s, a partner that looked more than natural to us. This partnership will allow to develop a stronger and more popular soccer in Quebec. This kind of partnership will benefit all fans of the beautiful game and the strength of this union will have an impact on all our members.”
The main component of this partnership involves the long-term acquisition of the Quebec federation’s marketing and commercial rights by the Montreal club, until the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, allowing from now on the Impact and Soccer Québec to join forces to promote and support the continued growth of the sport in the province. This agreement between a professional team and an amateur sport entity is a first in the country.
On the sporting side, the Impact’s new Scouting and Development Centre, which currently includes Club de soccer de Boucherville, Club de soccer Mont-Royal Outremont, Club de soccer St-Lazare Hudson, Association de soccer de Saint-Lambert and le Club de soccer le Mistral de Sherbrooke, will harmonize its operations with the criteria of the federation’s club recognition program.
There will also be a systematic collaboration between the two organizations for coaching education, with an IMFC Day for high-level coaches and a yearly participation to the coaches’ internships.
Moreover, with this partnership, the Montreal Impact Academy will continue scouting talent in the main soccer events across the province.
A first partnership between both entities was in fact put in place in 2015, to recognize the Academy as the main development solution for players with the highest potential in Quebec. Since its foundation in 2011, 17 of its players have signed a professional contract with the first team and a total of 43 players have signed professional contracts, here or elsewhere. Six Academy players were invited to the Impact’s 2020 training camp.
Soccer Québec is the organism regulating soccer in all its forms on the Quebec territory since 1911. Its mandate is to regulate, promote and develop soccer with its members. Soccer Québec counts over 200,000 members, distributed in players, coaches, referees and volunteers. It’s the largest sports federation in Quebec.
