Eight in Ten (78%) Agree It's Important for Canada to Have a Team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup (TM)

Toronto, ON - World Cup fever has hit a new pitch as the tournament heads into the final rounds. A new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Canadian Soccer Association has revealed that Canadians want to be a part of the action four years from now, as eight in ten (78%) `agree' (27% strongly/51% somewhat) that `it is important for Canada to have a team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup(TM). Just two in ten (22%) `disagree' (7% strongly/15% somewhat).

While four in ten (40%) immigrants to Canada say that they follow the soccer league in the country where they were born, an overwhelming majority (86%) of all Canadians `agree' (51% strongly/35% somewhat) that if Canada had a team in the FIFA World Cup(TM) they would cheer for Canada first and foremost, including 83% of those born in another country. In fact, two in three (64%) `agree' (22% strongly/42% somewhat) that if Canada had a team in the 2014 FIFA World Cup(TM) they would be `even more proud to be Canadian'.

The desire to have Canada qualify for and participate in the next FIFA World Cup(TM) tournament is so strong among many that six in ten (62%) Canadians `agree' (20% strongly/41% somewhat) that `Canada should do whatever is necessary to ensure that we have a team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup(TM)'.

Naturally, one of the key pieces to the puzzle is proper funding, both from governments sources and from private sponsors. To this effect, six in ten (62%) Canadians `agree' (19% strongly/43% somewhat) that they would be `more likely' to support a company that sponsored Canada's national soccer teams as they attempt to qualify for FIFA World Cup(TM) competitions. Conversely, four in ten (38%) `disagree' (12% strongly/26% somewhat).

Roughly one quarter (23%) of Canadians say they're paying attention (9% a lot/14% a great deal) to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa(TM), the proportion of which rises to 31% among men and 30% among those aged 18 to 34. Thinking about their own personal experience with soccer, 25% of Canadians have played soccer, but not in an organized league, 13% have played in an organized league, 10% follow it regularly on TV, 10% have a child who plays in a league, 9% have attended a professional soccer match and 4% have coached, refereed or administered an organized soccer league. A minority (47%) of Canadians haven't had any exposure to soccer in these ways.

The soccer tradition is very strong in many countries around the world, and with Canada being home to immigrants from many of these countries, these immigrants have brought their love of the game to Canada. Almost all (95%) of those surveyed who are living in Canada but were born in another country `agree' (68% strongly/28% somewhat) that `the wonderful thing about soccer is that it is played in so many countries around the world', and nine in ten (91%) `agree' (60% strongly/31% somewhat) that `the language of soccer is universal'.

But immigrants to Canada are more evenly split when it comes to the opportunities to support or play soccer in Canada. One half (50%) `agrees' (16% strongly/34% somewhat) that `Canada offers comparable opportunities to play soccer as the country where I was born', while the other half `disagrees' (15% strongly/35% somewhat). Further, one half (48%) `agrees' (15% strongly/33% somewhat) that `Canada offers comparable opportunities to support (as a fan) soccer as the country where I was born', compared to the other half (52%) who `disagree' (17% strongly/35% somewhat) with this assessment.

Perhaps shedding some light on why those opportunities might not be comparable, eight in ten (80%) immigrants `agree' (22% strongly/58% somewhat) that `Canadians view soccer as a recreational sport with a focus on health benefits', while two in ten (20%) `disagree' (5% strongly/20% somewhat). Further, only a minority (45%) `agrees' (15% strongly/30% somewhat) that `Canadians encourage their children to participate in soccer with a long-term goal that one day they might represent Canada in international competition'. A majority (55%) `disagrees' (17% strongly/38% somewhat) that this is the goal of Canadian parents.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between June 25-30, 2010, on behalf of the Canadian Soccer Association. For this survey, a sample of 1,033 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Sean Simpson
Senior Research Manager
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(416) 572-4474
[email protected]

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