As Official Isotonic and Sports Nutrition Partner of Canada Soccer since 2022, Gatorade announces Tajon Buchanan as a 2026 campaign athlete and launches limited-edition Glacier Punch – deepening its commitment to fuelling Canadian soccer from the National Team bench to the next generation
MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 1, 2026 /CNW/ - Gatorade® Canada, part of PepsiCo Canada's portfolio of brands and the Official Isotonic and Sports Nutrition Partner of Canada Soccer, is proud to welcome Canadian Men's National Team (CANMNT) winger Tajon Buchanan as a partner athlete for the 2026 campaign, alongside the launch of Glacier Punch, a limited-edition flavour. Together, they underscore a landmark summer for Canadian soccer, with CANMNT set to compete on home soil in front of a global audience - fuelled by the sports drink that has been part of the team's preparation since March 2022.
Through years of hard work, dedication, and a steady climb up the global rankings, Gatorade has been on the bench alongside CANMNT- its formula designed to rapidly replace the fluids and minerals athletes lose in sweat, helping to keep them fuelled and performing on the field.
"Gatorade has been part of the CANMNT's journey for over three years, and everything we've built together has been pointing to this moment," said Reid Black, Senior Director of Marketing, Gatorade Canada. "Announcing Tajon as a partner athlete is a natural extension of that commitment. Our job is to make sure this team has the science-backed sports drink to rehydrate, replenish, and refuel2 - so they can keep pushing when it matters most."
Science-Backed. Bench-Ready.
Gatorade brings its 60-year heritage and the expertise of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) to the Canada Soccer bench. In soccer, players can lose between 1 and 2 litres of fluid through sweat over a 90-minute match1 – and of all team sports studied, significant dehydration has been reported most consistently in soccer. Gatorade's electrolyte and carbohydrate formula is scientifically designed to rapidly replace what athletes lose, and is integrated directly into Canada Soccer's match day performance protocols – giving the CMNT a competitive edge in a sport where every second matters. For more information on Gatorade Canada's full product range, visit gatorade.ca.
Is It In You
CANMNT winger Tajon Buchanan joins Gatorade Canada as a partner athlete for the 2026 campaign, bringing the iconic "Is It In You" platform to the world of Canadian soccer. For Buchanan, preparation is everything - and staying properly hydrated and fuelled is central to how he performs at the highest level.
"Every time I step on the pitch, I know the work I've put in to get there. Hydration is a big part of that preparation for me - when your body is running on empty, it shows. Gatorade helps me make sure I'm giving everything I have from the first minute to the last. This summer is going to be something special for Canadian soccer, alongside a brand that has been fuelling this team since day one," Tajon Buchanan, CANMNT winger and Gatorade Canada partner athlete.
Fuelling the National Team to the Next Generation
Since becoming the official Isotonic and Sports Nutrition partner of Canada Soccer in 2022, Gatorade has fuelled both the Canadian Men's and Women's National Teams through match-day performance protocols, embedded in the routines of Canada's top athletes as they represent our nation on the international stage. This summer, Gatorade's commitment to Canadian soccer runs from the National Team bench to the next generation of players. Custom Gatorade and Canada Soccer-branded Gx bottles and towels will fuel the CANMNT on the sideline – with select quantities making their way to youth soccer athletes through the campaign. Gatorade has also distributed 50,000 bottles, powders, and equipment to youth soccer associations across Canada in 2026, reaching 2,500 teams nationwide. A soccer-series packaging refresh across the core Gatorade lineup rounds out the brand's presence on and off the pitch. And arriving at major retailers across Canada on March 23, Glacier Punch – a limited-edition flavour scientifically formulated to help athletes rehydrate, replenish, and refuel – will be on the bench alongside the CANMNT as they take the field this summer.
As the CANMNT prepares to compete, Gatorade will be where it has always been - behind the athletes, fuelling the sweat.
About the Gatorade Sports Science Institute
The Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) is committed to helping athletes optimize their health and performance through research and education in hydration and sports nutrition science. Since 1985, GSSI has been at the forefront of sports science research, working with elite athletes and teams worldwide. GSSI scientists conduct peer-reviewed research and provide evidence-based recommendations for athletes at all levels.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.ca, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
1 Barnes KA, et al. (2019). Normative Data for Sweating Rate, Sweat Sodium Concentration, and Sweat Sodium Loss in Athletes: An Update and Analysis by Sport. Journal of Sports Sciences. Gatorade Sports Science Institute. |
2 Helps maintain normal water and electrolyte balance. Carbohydrates provide energy. |
SOURCE PepsiCo
For further information: Media Contact: Meg Murphy, Golin for Gatorade, [email protected]
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