The County’s Soccer Association has scored a beautiful new $150,000 clubhouse from AirBnB’s FIFA World Cup Impact Program. The clean new build will replace the existing battered and bruised farm shed at the Johnson Street pitch.

Prince Edward is one of four Ontario communities to receive funding for soccer infrastructure and programming from the fund, alongside Niagara-on-the-Lake, Bracebridge, and Gravenhurst.

The Impact Program is a US $5 million fund by AirBnB to benefit the regions hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

Council declared a new soccer clubhouse a Project of Community Interest in April 2025 and included it in the 2026 budget. PECSA committed to raising $200,000, and the municipality to contribute $5,000 for a water bottle station.

“This investment is a transformational moment for PECSA and the thousands of players, families, and volunteers we serve each year,” said PECSA president David Walcott, who is confident the outstanding $50,000 can be raised by the time construction starts in the fall.

The new clubhouse will provide secure storage for equipment, jerseys, and field maintenance tools; a centralized meeting and operations space; updated irrigation controls; and a modest concession stand.The project includes improved portable washroom facilities, a water bottle refill station, and accessibility improvements.

“It will provide a permanent home for our soccer community while giving us the secure space needed to protect the significant equipment and resources PECSA has invested in to deliver a high-quality soccer experience,” continued Mr. Walcott.

“This facility will help ensure that investments in youth soccer continue to deliver lasting benefits for local players and families. We are deeply grateful for this support and excited to bring this vision to life.”

Founded in 1999, PECSA supports nearly 1,000 participants ranging from U4 Timbits  to adult leagues. With 73 teams, programming four nights a week, and dozens of local volunteers and community sponsors, PECSA is a cornerstone of organized sport in the region.

One of those early founders is Scott Wentworth, who was thrilled to learn of the FIFA funding.

“As an organization, we’re in our 27th season of offering an excellent soccer program to thousands of youth in the County. The new clubhouse will be the hub of our soccer community while meeting our needs for both the short and long term,” he said. 

“Having this opportunity the year that Canada is co-hosting the World Cup adds a richer dimension to the legacy of soccer in the County. It will become one of those ‘I remember when’ stories players will pass down to their children.  We’re also extremely grateful to the County, its staff, and our partnership with them in developing such a user-friendly facility.”

Construction begins after the summer season ends and will be complete before the start of the next.