Spiraling Drone-Spying Scandal at Olympics Risks Damage to Canadian Soccer Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Published on July 31, 2024
PARIS—Canadian soccer officials admitted in evidence to FIFA that spying on opponents was routinely done, for the men’s national team as well as the women’s team which has been punished for using drones at the Paris Olympics. The drone-spying scandal threatens to spread beyond the Olympics, where Canada is the defending women’s champion, to the men’s team at the 2026 World Cup. Canada is one of the 2026 World Cup home teams, co-hosting the 48-team tournament with the United States and Mexico. Canada lost its appeal Wednesday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a six-point penalty imposed by the sport’s world governing body for spying on New Zealand practices ahead of their opening game last week....