Soccer Sport Medicine Symposium 2026
From Grassroots to the Grand Stage – Diving into Movement, Medicine and Matchday of Soccer Sports Medicine
Join sport medicine physicians and allied health professionals from across the country for an immersive, wide-ranging look at soccer athlete care as we head toward the 2026 World Cup. Whether you work on the pitch, in the clinic, or in performance environments, you’ll leave equipped with fresh insights and practical tools to support the modern soccer athlete.
Hear from leaders in sport and exercise medicine during this half-day soccer medicine webinar featuring insights from Elwin Lau, Senior Manager, Medical – Canada with FIFA World Cup 2026™ on preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, alongside expert clinical perspectives from Dr. Andrew Pipe on return to play and Dr. Cathy Campbell on managing sideline emergencies. ⚽
The target audience is a physician of any specialty, with or without their CASEM diploma, who wishes to develop and enhance their knowledge of and skill in the care of the athlete. This conference may also be of interest to allied health professionals who are involved with the care of the athlete.
Accreditation
This activity has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Alberta Chapter for up to 4 Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits.
Overall Learning
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Apply evidence-based strategies for prevention, management, and return-to-play in soccer athletes
- Recognize and respond to sideline emergencies and environmental risks, ensuring athlete safety and advocacy.
- Integrate emerging technologies, AI, and inclusive, patient-centered approaches into clinical decision-making and multidisciplinary care.
Preliminary Program
Note this is a preliminary program, the following topics and details are subject to change. Times are in Eastern Standard Time
10:00 am – Kick off!
10:05 am – Athlete Keynote – Samuel Charron, Para soccer
10:45 am – World Cup Preparations – Elwin Lau, AT
11:15 am – Return to Play – Dr. Andrew Pipe, MD, Dip. Sport Med.
11:45 am – Sideline Emergencies – Dr. Cathy Campbell, MD, Dip. Sport Med.
12:15 pm – Half Time
12:30 pm – Cerebral Palsy Soccer – Sandy Zinkowski, AT
12:50 pm – Canadian Women’s League – Helen Ruken, AFC Toronto
1:10 pm – Important Questions to Answer in Youth Soccer – Dr. Neil Cooper, MD, Dip. Sport Med.
1:30 pm – Upcoming Research – Football in the Era of Climate Change (Impact of Extreme Heat) – Phillipa Marima, Midlands State University
1:50 pm – AI and Technology in Soccer – Tarik Agday
2:10 pm – Closing Remarks (Final Whistle!)