Toronto – Downtown Toronto. It's the heartbeat of Canada's cultural, economic and sporting landscape. It is also the backdrop for a pair of national university championships over the next three seasons as the University of Toronto hosts the 2025 U SPORTS men's soccer championship and the 2027 U SPORTS women's volleyball championship.
This will be the third time the U of T hosts each championship, having organized the 1986- and 2010 men's soccer finals and the 1995- and 2015 national women's volleyball tournaments.
Each championship will feature an 11-game tournament. The men's soccer championship will be held on the grounds of the historic Varsity Stadium, while the women's volleyball championship will be contested at the state-of-the-art Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
"U SPORTS is excited to bring a pair of national championships back to one of Canada's oldest universities, said U SPORTS Chief Executive Officer Pierre Arsenault. "The University of Toronto and its facilities provide the perfect mix of history and modernity that will be the scene of outstanding competitions and leave student-athletes, coaches and fans with memories that will last a lifetime. We know both Varsity Stadium and the Goldring Centre will create a unique environment for participating teams and fans, and we look forward to bringing the championship back to the heart of the metropolis!
"We are incredibly proud to host both the men's soccer and women's volleyball national championships here at the University of Toronto," said Mary Beth Challoner, Director of Intercollegiate & High Performance Sport. "This is not only a fantastic opportunity for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level but also a celebration of the City of Toronto's vibrant sporting community. Bringing two major championships to our campus reflects our commitment to gender equity in sport, and it's exciting to see both men's and women's teams showcased on the national stage. These events will energize our campus and provide lasting memories for our athletes, students, and fans alike."
"We are looking forward to hosting the national championship," said Ilya Orlov, Varsity Blues men's soccer head coach. "The soccer program has a long and successful history that we will look to continue, while having the best teams in the country compete at Varsity Stadium for the first time since 2010. The event will draw large crowds of soccer fans and will be another opportunity for the development and growth of soccer in the city. It will be a great opportunity for student-athletes to compete on the national stage in front of a passionate soccer community at the University of Toronto and the City of Toronto. The event will hopefully also lead to excitement for the preparation to the 2026 Men's World Cup with Toronto being one of the host cities."
"Hosting the national championship is a tremendous opportunity for our program and for the development of volleyball in Toronto," said Kristine Drakich, Varsity Blues women's volleyball head coach. "It not only allows our student-athletes a chance to compete against the best in the country, right here at home, but also allows us to inspire the next generation of players who will see firsthand what's possible at the U SPORTS level. Hosting for the third time is s huge milestone for our program and a proud moment for our team."
Stay tuned for the unveiling of the championship logos and ticket information in January 2025. For more exciting updates as the University of Toronto prepares to welcome the best in Canadian university men's soccer and women's volleyball, visit USPORTS.ca.