The Canadian Premier League (CPL) and founding partner Volkswagen Canada are joining forces once again this season to honour eleven soccer-loving Canadians who are positively impacting their communities through the beautiful game, by way of the 2023 Volkswagen FC: Game Changers program. 

The program, which launched in 2022, annually recognizes a team of Canadians who each individually embody Volkswagen Canada’s commitment to Be the Change by taking on leadership roles within our country’s soccer system and driving positive change in our sport. 

Once selected to the 2023 Volkswagen FC: Game Changers starting eleven, which will be announced later in the CPL season, the stories of these influential soccer leaders will be shared on the League’s digital and social media channels. Each Game Changer honoured will receive a limited-edition custom kit as a member of the starting eleven and Volkswagen Canada will donate to a charity of their choice in the name of each recipient.

Nominations for the 2023 Volkswagen FC: Game Changers program are now open here. The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 23, 2023. Find more information on the Canadian soccer leaders selected to the 2022 Volkswagen FC: Game Changers starting eleven here.   

“We are honoured to once again support this great initiative alongside the Canadian Premier League,” said Lynne Piette, Director, Marketing, Volkswagen Canada. “Not everyone receives the recognition they deserve for their dedication or leadership in their community, and we want to provide an opportunity for those selected leaders to know they have support behind them as well. We also hope that the Game Changers initiative will inspire others to help make a difference and Be the Change as well.”

Volkswagen Canada’s commitment to changing the world for the better through its Be the Change campaign has resonated with CPL fans through various forms of outreach over more than five years as a Founding Partner of the League. Volkswagen Canada isn’t just asking Canadians to Be the Change; the organization is also pushing for change within its own walls by striving to reduce its carbon footprint, helping to electrify Canadian roadways and bringing new, accessible and exciting all-electric vehicles to market.

“There are so many Canadians leaders within our country’s soccer community who deserve recognition for their commitment to the game,” said Glen Johnson, Executive Vice President, Canadian Premier League.  “We are thrilled to once again partner with Volkswagen Canada to honour some of those people through the Volkswagen FC: Game Changers program. Learning their stories is motivation for us all to continue to drive change through our sport.”