Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), the commercial arm of Canada Soccer and the Canadian Premier League (CPL), has announced the appointment of former Football Australia head, James Johnson, as its new group chief executive. This move comes on the heels of Mark Noonan's decision to step down from his dual roles as commissioner of CPL and CEO of CSB.
Johnson will be at the helm of both CSB and CPL, with a mandate to shape soccer's commercial success in Canada. This is particularly significant as Canada prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Mexico and USA. In addition to this role, Johnson will also sit on OneSoccer's board - a soccer streaming service initially set up through a joint venture between sports rights agency Mediapro and CSB. His responsibilities include implementing a media strategy for distributing all CSB’s rights.
James Johnson, CEO of Canadian Soccer Business, said:
“I am honored to join CSB and feel a real sense of excitement from the momentum building behind Canadian soccer.
“I look forward to working with all stakeholders to support growth for all. We will build on CSB’s unique assets to foster a thriving and inclusive soccer community, putting innovation, collaboration, and strategic partnerships at the heart of all we do.”
Proven track record
Johnson brings with him an impressive resume from his time at Football Australia where he served for over five years before stepping down in March. He is credited with overseeing one of Australian soccer’s most successful periods, guiding it through Covid-19 pandemic challenges while delivering record revenue growth.
Under his leadership, Football Australia secured hosting rights for two major events: The FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and expanded 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
His previous roles include senior vice-president of external affairs with City Football Group which operates teams like Manchester City, New York City FC & Melbourne City; head professional football for international body FIFA; director international relations & development Asian Football Confederation; player relations executive Professional Footballers Australia – union representing Australian soccer players.
Challenges Ahead
However, Johnson's appointment comes amid a major dispute between Canada Soccer and the Canadian Soccer Players’ Association (CSPA) labor union over the governing body’s relationship with CSB. Last year, CSPA, which represents players on the women’s national team, filed a $40 million lawsuit against current and former Canada Soccer board members over a media and sponsorship contract signed in 2018 with CSB.
The lawsuit alleges that the board failed to canvas for competing bids, conduct appropriate diligence concerning fair market value of Canada Soccer’s media & sponsorship rights, and make adequate disclosures to membership of Canada Soccer.
Despite these challenges, Johnson's appointment is seen as an opportunity for CSB to leverage his experience in shaping large-scale sustainable initiatives across multiple jurisdictions. His vision aligns perfectly with CSB's goal to build a sustainable progressive globally recognized soccer environment for Canada.
