Montréal Carabins to represent Canada at FISU America soccer championships

The Montréal Carabins men’s and women’s soccer teams will be the Canadian representatives at the 2026 FISU America championships. U SPORTS, as the Canadian representative to FISU America, the continental branch of the International University Sports Federation, announced its participation today in the event, which runs from July 20-Aug. 1 as part of the FISU America Games in Lima, Peru.

The two events will also serve as a qualifier for the 2027 University World Cup.

In women’s soccer the Carabins are the current U SPORTS women's soccer champions, having captured the Gladys Bean Memorial Trophy last November with a 2-1 win over UBC in the championship game in Hamilton. The Carabins went 18-0-1 overall last season (13-0-1 RSEQ), winning their ninth conference title and third national championship.

Led by 2025 U SPORTS women’s soccer coach of the year Nadège Akamse, and boasting four All-Canadians, the Carabins played a stifling defence as they only allowed two goals in the entire season. 

Canada has previously won two medals in women’s soccer at the FISU America level, with the Ottawa Gee-Gees winning gold at the 2022 event, while the Laval Rouge et Or took bronze in 2024, before capturing silver at the University World Cup the following year. The Gee-Gees captured gold at the inaugural University World Cup in 2019. 

In men’s soccer, the Carabins are the defending U SPORTS bronze medallists, after downing conference rivals UQTR 5-1 at the U SPORTS championship in Toronto. They posted an overall record of 11-3-3 (7-2-3 RSEQ) as they won their second straight RSEQ title, and their seventh in the past eight seasons. Last year’s bronze at the national championship extended the Carabins’ streak to eight consecutive national medals.

This will mark the first appearance for a Canadian men’s soccer team in the FISU University World Cup qualification process.

The full team rosters, along with the draw and schedule for the event, will be released in the coming weeks.