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Culture

Boi-1da Named Canada Soccer's New Music Ambassador

In the new role as National Teams Music Ambassador, the Grammy-winner OVO producer will lead creative direction for a series of anthems fundraising for youth soccer programs across the country.

Boi-1da with Canada Soccer Foundation Jersey

Boi-1da with Canada Soccer Foundation Jersey

Creo Visions

Producer Boi-1da will be scoring some wins in the studio for Canada Soccer.

The Grammy-winning Toronto artist has worked behind the scenes on some of the biggest hits coming out of the country, producing Drake since day one. Now, he's been named to a new role as National Teams Music Ambassador for Canada Soccer, the organization governing soccer at the international, national and amateur levels.


As Canada prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the "God's Plan" producer will boost the profile of the sport at home and on the airwaves.

In partnership with Infinity Records, Boi-1da will lead a new initiative, Perfect Pitch, raising funds for youth soccer programs in Canada. He will creative direct and executive producer a series of musical anthems celebrating the beautiful game, with proceeds going to the Canada Soccer Foundation.

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Boi-1da is not the only Canadian musician tapped to contribute to help craft a sound for the sport. Juno-winning engineer Hill Kourkoutis has produced a remix of the Fifa World Cup Theme 26, infusing it with the musical identity of Toronto, set to drop on March 8.

Meanwhile, Boi-1da is getting some big recognition at home for his work making global hits lately — he'll also receive the International Achievement Award at the 2025 Junos, coming up on March 30, becoming the first producer to win the award.

No word yet on which talent he'll bring in to collab on Perfect Pitch tracks, but he's got a record of working with some of the biggest names in music, like Rihanna, Eminem, Nicki Minaj and Eminem.

"Being able to combine two things that I have a deep passion for – music and Canadian soccer – has always been something that I wanted to do. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to spearhead an initiative that allows me to create a musical identity for a program that I admire," said the producer in a statement. "Everything about this moment is special."

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Jairus Sharif
Matt Wallace via Jairus Sharif / Instagram

Jairus Sharif

Awards

Calgary Jazz Artist Jairus Sharif Wins the First-Ever Meridian Prize

Sharif's album Basis of Unity is the first recipient of the FACTOR-partnered award that recognizes an album of exceptional artistic achievement from Western and Northern Canada. The award was presented at BreakOut West in Victoria this weekend (Oct. 3).

Jairus Sharif has won the first-ever Meridian Prize.

This weekend, the Calgary experimental jazz musician was awarded the inaugural Meridian Prize for his 2025 album Basis of Unity at BreakOut West festival and conference in Victoria, British Columbia. The brand new prize was introduced this year to recognize an album of exceptional artistic achievement from Western and Northern Canada, serving a similar role as the Polaris Music Prize. In addition to a trophy, Sharif also receives a $5,000 honorarium.

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