FIFA World Cup 2026: Vancouver Hosts Seven Matches

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by djmk

Also, considering that Vancouver is the smallest of all the cities hosting, it has 7 games which is more than most cities

Exactly. We did pretty well for ourselves in terms of host presence in the World Cup.

[svlt]

Originally Posted by djmk

Also, considering that Vancouver is the smallest of all the cities hosting, it has 7 games which is more than most cities

Second smallest. Kansas City is the smallest - they're getting 6 games which is a lot for their size as well.

Canada is highly favored against Qatar but definitely won't count chickens before they hatch. With the new more forgiving format we are more likely than not (>50%) to get it out of the group as the 3rd place team and will just need a lot of luck to go any further as we will likely draw against another group winner.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by RedArbutus

Exactly. We did pretty well for ourselves in terms of host presence in the World Cup.

And a round of 16 game. Canada gets 1 (Vancouver), Mexico gets 1 (Mexico City).

We also host the FIFA Congress conference April 30, which is a win as well (especially for restaurants with backrooms suitable for bribing!).

We are using an existing stadium, entered contention for the tournament late in the process, and got more out of it than our national co-host (Toronto). Could have been worse.

[kikin]

thanks for the explanations, but I'm still confused about one thing, what final round games will Vancouver get, and is there a chance the ultimate final game will be in Vancouver?

[madog222]

Originally Posted by kikin

thanks for the explanations, but I'm still confused about one thing, what final round games will Vancouver get, and is there a chance the ultimate final game will be in Vancouver?

None, the round of 16 will be the last match in Vancouver.

The final will be in New Jersey, semi-finals will be in Dallas and Atlanta.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by kikin

thanks for the explanations, but I'm still confused about one thing, what final round games will Vancouver get, and is there a chance the ultimate final game will be in Vancouver?

No, all of the final games (final 8, 4, World Cup final) are in the US. The final is in New York/New Jersey. Vancouver gets Canada's only Round of 16 game, as well as a Round of 32 game, and 5 group stage matches.

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by kikin

thanks for the explanations, but I'm still confused about one thing, what final round games will Vancouver get, and is there a chance the ultimate final game will be in Vancouver?

Its not like hockey where the best record team gets a "home" advantage for location. Better teams get an easier draw against weaker opponents but all the locations for the elimination (or playoff games) are fixed already and the final is in New York (new Jersey technically) at Met Life Stadium

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_F...knockout_stage

[WarrenC12]

Toronto could be getting Canada vs Italy which would be the biggest game for the home crowd. I see they are hosting at BMO Field which is a surprise to me, I thought they'd be in SkyDome for sure.

KC is also getting a Quarter Final game, that's pretty big. I wonder if their central-ish location on the continent helps.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Toronto could be getting Canada vs Italy which would be the biggest game for the home crowd. I see they are hosting at BMO Field which is a surprise to me, I thought they'd be in SkyDome for sure.

KC is also getting a Quarter Final game, that's pretty big. I wonder if their central-ish location on the continent helps.

If it is Italy who makes it into our group, and they win that group, then Vancouver will be hosting their Round of 32 (and if they win, their Round of 16 - quite possibly against Portugal).

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by csbvan

If it is Italy who makes it into our group, and they win that group, then Vancouver will be hosting their Round of 32 (and if they win, their Round of 16 - quite possibly against Portugal).

Yeah there is a potential to have some big teams here if they flub the opening rounds too. Ahem, England...

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Yeah there is a potential to have some big teams here if they flub the opening rounds too. Ahem, England...

Us not getting Italy games because they flub the opening round could be the most likely scenario...

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Toronto could be getting Canada vs Italy which would be the biggest game for the home crowd. I see they are hosting at BMO Field which is a surprise to me, I thought they'd be in SkyDome for sure.

KC is also getting a Quarter Final game, that's pretty big. I wonder if their central-ish location on the continent helps.

SkyDome (Rogers Centre) is baseball only now, and even if it was not, there is no way the Blue Jays would be out of there for a couple of months (FIFA requires the stadiums a month before it starts for prep, etc).

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by kikin

thanks for the explanations, but I'm still confused about one thing, what final round games will Vancouver get, and is there a chance the ultimate final game will be in Vancouver?

LBH, Vancouver was never important enough to get any of the final eight.

[nname]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

LBH, Vancouver was never important enough to get any of the final eight.

Well, it's essentially World Cup USA with Canada and Mexico each help host a few games. There were never much chance of any game including/after quarterfinal being hosted outside of USA.

Mexico and Canada will each host 10 group stage matches, 2 round of 32, and 1 round of 16. USA will host 75% of the games. So Vancouver pretty much got the most of what it can possibly gets.

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by nname

Well, it's essentially World Cup USA with Canada and Mexico each help host a few games. There were never much chance of any game including/after quarterfinal being hosted outside of USA.

Mexico and Canada will each host 10 group stage matches, 2 round of 32, and 1 round of 16. USA will host 75% of the games. So Vancouver pretty much got the most of what it can possibly gets.

Exactly, I was shocked we got a round of 16 game tbh

For all the flaws, corruption, etc of FIFA, this is probably the best Canada could hope for as far as ever hosting a WC

[jollyburger]

Seems like Iran will get replaced by another team.

[kikin]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

LBH, Vancouver was never important enough to get any of the final eight.

wow, I had no idea, what a ripoff.... all of this hype and holding the city hostage and we are not even close to being the main host city... what a joke

I think many locals that don't pay close attention were thinking this was like the olympics where you get named to be THE city and the whole world is watching and your city is front and centre..... this doesn't seem anything like that at all

[cjones2451]

Originally Posted by kikin

wow, I had no idea, what a ripoff.... all of this hype and holding the city hostage and we are not even close to being the main host city... what a joke

I think many locals that don't pay close attention were thinking this was like the Olympics where you get named to be THE city and the whole world is watching and your city is front and centre..... this doesn't seem anything like that at all

All the cities know what they are getting into when you "partner" with FIFA. All world cups have multiple cities and many cities that bid didn't even get picked or when they decided on the "costs" FIFA insisted on, considered it too rich for them. It is arguably the largest sporting event in the world, but there is a high price to pay to be a part of it

I would argue Vancouver will get more 'eyeballs' on it in this situation that in a Winter Olympics just based on the pure world wide participation of football (soccer) vs winter sports

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Seems like Iran will get replaced by another team.

Iran hit Stryker Medical big time today with a cyber attack. Company reps in Vancouver even had issues with their phones.

Stryker supplies a lot to the US military.

Who knows what they could do with FIFA systems.

Ron.

[madog222]

The isn’t the current events sub-forum.