National Team heroes Julian de Guzman and Dr. Melissa Tancredi have been named to the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. The two former footballers exceled for both club and country that represented the best in Canadian soccer.
“Beyond their on-field achievements, Julian and Melissa served as ambassadors for the game, inspiring teammates, supporters, and role models to the next generation of Canadian players,” said Peter Augruso, Canada Soccer President. “Their legacies extend well beyond results, leaving an enduring impact on the culture, credibility, and ambition of Canadian soccer. Their induction into the Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to their remarkable careers, and to the leadership, character, and lasting legacy they leave behind.”
Both de Guzman and Tancredi will be honoured later this year at Men’s National Team and Women’s National Team home matches in front of family, friends and Canadian supporters.
The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements and traditions of the game in Canada. It helps capture and preserve the history of sport in our nation, honouring former Canadian players, referees, coaches and builders of the game. To date, the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame has welcomed 149 players, 11 referees, 13 officials and 45 builders as honoured members. Honoured members, by their achievements and passion, have made a positive impact to soccer in Canada and have left a legacy for the sport in our country and around the world.
JULIAN de GUZMAN
Julian de Guzman was a Canada Soccer Player of the Year, a Concacaf Gold Cup Most Valuable Player and a three-time Concacaf Gold Cup all-star. He represented Canada in four cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and six editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup, notably reaching the Concacaf Semifinals in 2002 and 2007. He set a Canada record with 89 career international “A” appearances from 2002 to 2016, including 25 starts with the captain’s armband. At the youth level, he represented Canada at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2001.
At the club level, he was a three-time Canadian Championship winner with Toronto FC. He featured in UEFA and Concacaf club competitions, notably reaching the 2011-12 Concacaf Champions League Semifinals. In Europe, he made more than 150 career appearances across Germany’s Bundesliga and Spain’s La Liga. He earned Player of the Year honours with Deportivo La Coruña in 2007-08. He wrapped up his pro career with Ottawa Fury FC where he won the 2015 NASL Fall Season title.
DR. MELISSA TANCREDI
Melissa Tancredi was a two-time Olympic Bronze Medal winner, Concacaf champion, and three-time FIFA World Cup participant with Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team. In all, she won six Concacaf medals and made 125 international “A” appearances across 14 years. She ranked fifth all time with 27 international “A” goals for Canada and notably scored the historic match winners that qualified Canada for the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.
At the club level, Tancredi played her football in Canada, USA and Sweden. She reached the 2010 USL W-League Championship Final with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and she was a WPS league runner up with Saint Louis Athletica in 2009. At the youth level, she won Canada Soccer’s U-19 Cup with Burlington in 1999. With Canada as one of the heroes of the magical Bronze Medal run at the London 2012 Olympic Games, she was part of the squad named The Canadian Press Team of the Year, Postmedia Team of the Year, and honoured by the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.
CANADA SOCCER HALL of FAME
The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements and traditions of the game in Canada. It helps capture and preserve the history of sport in our nation, honouring former Canadian players, referees, coaches and builders of the game. As an honoured member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame, you represent the best in Canadian football.
The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame honours Canadian players that have played the game with excellence at the international and club level. In the Modern Canadian Players category, there are now 31 former Men’s National Team players and 31 former Women’s National Team players honoured by the Hall of Fame.
The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame celebrates the individual and team achievements and traditions in the game of soccer in Canada. Since 2000, the Hall has welcomed 144 players, 13 coaches, 10 officials, and 45 builders as honoured members. Honoured members, by their achievements and passion, have made a positive impact to soccer in Canada and have left a legacy for the sport in our country and around the world.
