The report places hockey’s support in Ontario at 29%, below the levels recorded in several other regions. That does not represent a collapse for Canada’s traditional favourite; rather, it underlines how crowded Ontario’s sporting landscape has become.
The province has major teams in hockey, baseball, basketball, Canadian football and association football. Toronto’s professional scene, combined with its diverse population, gives supporters more reasons to divide their loyalty than the country’s old hockey-first shorthand suggests.
Nationally, however, hockey retains the broadest base. Its appeal also remains strong across genders and among younger respondents, ensuring that football’s progress is measured against a powerful cultural institution.
Football’s strongest showing comes among Canadians aged 18-24, where the report says it reached 13% as a favourite sport. That is the age group most exposed to international competitions, global clubs and the growing profile of Canada’s men’s national team.
“Sports preferences likely become more diversified after age 25,” Jedwab said. “Hockey remains the leading choice, but Canadians between 25 and 44 appear more likely to divide their attention among football, basketball, baseball and Canadian football.”
The visibility created by World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver could push that diversification further. Football’s advantage is its international reach, while the national team offers a direct connection for supporters who may not have grown up with hockey.
Football is not replacing hockey. It is adding another layer to Canada’s sporting identity, particularly in Ontario and among younger fans.
The next test will come when Canada’s team takes centre stage at the World Cup. Sustaining that attention beyond the tournament may determine whether football has gained a lasting foothold or simply enjoyed a temporary surge.