With a brand new MLS season set to kick off this weekend, Canadian men’s national team midfielder Jonathan Osorio hasn’t taken his eye off what the women’s team is going through in their shared battle with the federation to “improve the game in this country.”

In an interview with TSN’s Matthew Scianitti, Osorio explained what it has been like to watch what the Canadian women’s national team is going through in their battle with Canada Soccer.

“I know what they’re going through is not easy. It’s not a position they want to be in. But I know it’s a position they must take in order to improve the game in this country on both the men’s and the women’s side,” Osorio said.

The impasse between the women’s team and Canada Soccer started in the lead up to the SheBelieves Cup. Two days before CanWNT’s opening match against the United States, the Canadian Soccer Players Association released a statement announcing the players were on strike and would not participate in the tournament. That was met by Canada Soccer threatening legal action against both the CSPA and individual players. The women’s team dropped their strike action and played in the SheBelieves Cup under protest. Losses to the USWNT and then Japan a week later showed just how much the off-the-pitch battle had taken its toll on the team.

“We support them, of course. Our unions are always in contact with each other and how we can help. There’s a lot of potential for the sport now, with the women’s team being so successful for a long time and now with [the men’s team] starting to show that success with making the World Cup, and seeing all the players that are playing at high levels.

“The federation has to back us, and back us in every way. And, take advantage of what’s to come in the future,” Osorio said.

The players say that Canada Soccer has imposed budget cuts and have shortened training camps and training days, reduced the number of players and staff, and scaled back on funding the women’s youth programs.

“The longer that this goes, it slows down the process of the growth of this game. In the end, I think that’s the main objective from both sides. Everyone wants to see the game grow and be a powerhouse in football, on both the men’s and women’s side. I think that’s the opportunity that we have.

“A deal has to be done soon in order for the growth to keep happening and so that come 2026, the country and the federation is in a really good spot,” Osorio told Scianitti.

Canada Soccer’s nine-year media and sponsorship rights deal with Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), which reportedly guarantees the national soccer federation an annual fee of $3-4 million per year but allows CSB to control all Canada Soccer revenues, was a major point of contention last summer for the men’s national team who boycotted a friendly in Vancouver ahead of last year’s World Cup in protest that a deal regarding World Cup bonuses had not been agreed with the federation.

“Vancouver [boycotting the game against Panama] is not something that we wanted to do. But we stand strong behind our beliefs and what needs to be done, so we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that a proper deal is done that benefits both teams.”

There are two international windows for the men’s team before this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. First at the end of March, and then in the middle of June.

Osorio kicks off his eleventh MLS season on Saturday, with the only professional team he’s ever played for, when Toronto FC visits Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United.