With women’s football in a record-breaking surge, the timing of this film couldn’t have been better. The women’s game has been riding an upward trajectory since Canada hosted the World Cup in 2015. 10 years later, the country boasts its first and only professional women’s football (soccer) league in Canada.
Trailblazing and shattering glass ceilings are no easy feat. The Pitch documents the highs and lows of the entire process and reveals how a simple idea turned into a nationwide movement. With direction from Michèle Hozer, archival footage teamed with first-person commentary builds to a climactic ending that charts a new path for Canada.
Diana Matheson is a former Canadian international and Olympic bronze medalist. Together with Thomas Gilbert, Matheson founded Project 8 to bring professional women’s soccer to Canada. On April 16, 2025, they made Canadian sports history when the first match of the newly founded Northern Soccer League (NSL) took place in Vancouver. What they’ve been able to accomplish in their first year of existence is nothing short of phenomenal.
The league has six clubs: Vancouver Rise FC, Calgary Wild FC, AFC Toronto, Ottawa Rapid FC, Montréal Roses FC, and Halifax Tides FC. The original plan was to have eight clubs, and expansion has already been announced. With a player-first approach, the league is making a name for itself across the continent due to its benefit offerings and high level of competition. The Standard Player Agreement in the NSL offers more to its players than the FIFA standard, like pregnancy pay and maternity and fertility benefits. In its infancy, the league has attracted some notable players in women’s football, like Sonia O’Neill (Venezuela), Mariah Lee (USA), Jorian Baucom (USA), Emma Regan (Canada), Nyota Katembo (Canada), Amanda Allen (Canada), and many others. The league continued to make history when Vancouver Rise FC Academy recently played its first match in the newly formed Concacaf W Champions Cup against the Washington Spirit.
The film features a wealth of archival footage from Matheson’s playing days and major events that affected her and her teammates. For events that happened with the national team, we get great first-person perspectives from teammates Christine Sinclair, Amy Walsh, Desiree Scott, and Erin McLeod. The collective offers a wealth of information behind major events like the 2012 London Olympics match with the U.S., the fallout with Canada Soccer in 2023, and the cheating scandal that rocked the Paris 2024 Olympics. Other guests include Marinette Pichon (former French player), John Herdman (former Canada coach), Johnny Nunan (president of Yukon Soccer Association), Diana’s parents, Laurel and Jon Matheson, and Kevin Blue (General Secretary & CEO of Canada Soccer).
Canada’s federation did not want to fund a women’s league. They said they would support it, but they weren’t gonna do the legwork to get it up and running.”
Christine Sinclair, Canada Soccer Legend
The documentary is a must for women’s sports advocates, but also serves as a rallying cry for equity in Canadian sports. According to Rally Report 2024 (Canadian Women & Sport), 7 in 10 girls are keen to engage in women’s sports as fans. The landscape of Canadian football as a whole is trending in the right direction, with talent spanning the globe and competing at some of the biggest and best clubs. Now, cementing a first division league for women at home will provide a platform for even more talented Canadians to compete and be discovered.
Canada is moving into a golden age for its women’s football. With the backing and support of Canada Soccer and a first division league, their next generation of talent already looks promising. Their star player, Christine Sinclair, retired internationally in 2023. But before she left the game, she, along with Diana Matheson, influenced a large swath of current players who, in turn, are inspiring the next generation. With stars like Kadeisha Buchanan (age 29), Ashley Lawrence (age 30), and Nichelle Prince (age 30) being influenced by the legendary duo, they’ve now paved the way for talents like Jordyn Huitema (age 24), Jade Rose (age 22), and Simi Awujo (age 21).
The film is premiering at the Atlantic International Film Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The festival will run from Sept. 10-17, and there’s still time to see the film:
Monday, Sep 15th, 5:30 PM @ Theatre 7
Tuesday, Sep 16th, 5:15 PM @ Theatre 3
The Pitch gets a 9 out of 10. It was inspiring to see the dedication and resilience of Matheson as she blazed this dream into reality. The next step in the league-building process is to add two more clubs. Any fan of sports documentaries would enjoy this film. The film oozes pride and commitment, so surely any Canadian who views this should feel extremely proud by the end. Though small in stature, Matheson made giant progress in meeting her country’s needs and winning the support of her federation.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of AlphaPR
Genre: Sports Documentary
Rating: Unrated
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
Trailer: N/A
U.S. Release Date: September 15, 2025