Soccer in Canada | Canada Hosting the 2026 World Cup

[Acajack]

Somewhere out there there are lists of every country's national soccer stadium, and under "Canada" the stadium listed is BMO Field. (BMO got federal money and one stipulation is that it would serve as our national soccer stadium.)

BMO is actually a pretty good stadium - especially by Canadian standards - but it's a bit of a joke as the national (soccer) stadium for a G7 country with 38 million people.

[thurmas]

Ideally BC place should be the national stadium when BC isn't suffering from the worst natural disaster in its history right now

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by MattBerryOfficial

Not worth continuing this discussion if you are just going to completely dismiss the importance of capacity. Commonwealth has double the capacity of BMO. Seems someone is upset another city got to host a great event.

I'm not, actually. I think it's great Edmonton got a shot at hosting a few matches.

But capacity doesn't dictate hosting, otherwise we'd be hosting in Edmonton and Montreal by default, and the Americans wouldn't be hosting in Cincinnati and Columbus in ~25K stadiums. Doing so would ignore other qualifiers such as travel for the team, suitable training facilities (Canada and Mexico had to practice indoors due to the weather), hotels, and other accommodations and logistics. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver, along with having simply better facilities, are better able to handle these demands.

World Cup qualifiers aren't about how many tickets can be sold - they're about how best Canada is able to win and providing them the best possible conditions to do so. Playing a snowbowl does not do that despite the rhetoric that many here like to use.

Originally Posted by thurmas

We do have an Olympic domed stadium that seats 70,000 but it ummm yeah kinda well you know the rest....

Why even host games at Commonwealth if Olympique can hold more people?

Originally Posted by Acajack

BMO is actually a pretty good stadium - especially by Canadian standards - but it's a bit of a joke as the national (soccer) stadium for a G7 country with 38 million people.

Being in the G7 has nothing to do with anything, but maybe CMNT actually being good for the first time in forever will spur us into building and supporting an actually good soccer facility for our national program instead of using old relics from yesteryear.

God help this forum if anything gets built in the GTA, though.

Originally Posted by thurmas

Ideally BC place should be the national stadium when BC isn't suffering from the worst natural disaster in its history right now

And if it wasn't as far away as possible for travel purposes.

[kel]

It would not have mattered if it was Vancouver, Winnipeg or Edmonton hosting the matches as a few people from Toronto would find away to complain about something, It is part of the Toronto culture of taking but never giving and a foreign concept that another city can do it better which Edmonton clearly can when it comes to hosting sporting events.
Hopefully soccer Canada uses Edmonton more often during the warmer months and give Vancouver the winter games, Toronto should be good for a couple one off friendly internationals against smaller nations once every couple years.

[logan5]

Canada is now the 40th ranked country in men's soccer. We are quickly outgrowing a 30 000 seat venue (BMO) for big matches.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Somewhere out there there are lists of every country's national soccer stadium, and under "Canada" the stadium listed is BMO Field. (BMO got federal money and one stipulation is that it would serve as our national soccer stadium.)

BMO is actually a pretty good stadium - especially by Canadian standards - but it's a bit of a joke as the national (soccer) stadium for a G7 country with 38 million people.

I'm fairly certain that there used to be a sign outside of Commonwealth Stadium up until about 20 years ago or so that had the Team Canada soccer logo on it and declared it to be "Canada's National Soccer Stadium" or words to that effect.

Was this an official designation by the the national association? If so, when was it moved to BMO (assuming that it ever was)? Or is this "national stadium" title in a country that does not have an obvious choice for such a thing the way that some countries do, just marketing claptrap?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm fairly certain that there used to be a sign outside of Commonwealth Stadium up until about 20 years ago or so that had the Team Canada soccer logo on it and declared it to be "Canada's National Soccer Stadium" or words to that effect.

Was this an official designation by the the national association? If so, when was it moved to BMO (assuming that it ever was)? Or is this "national stadium" title in a country that does not have an obvious choice for such a thing the way that some countries do, just marketing claptrap?

It's related to the Canadian Soccer Association and the federal government's involvement in BMO Field:

https://www.canadasoccer.com/news/pa...ibition-place/

[Nicko999]

Originally Posted by le calmar

Vancouver should host every game from mid-November to end of February. I find it embarrassing that they choose to host games in the cold on purpose.

Absolutely... it's an embarrassment for Canadian soccer and disrespectful for the players, the fans and for the game of soccer. The team definitely lost my respect and will not follow their journey anymore.

Making teams play in the heat or in the altitude is one thing. Making the team play in -10C weather when the ball is completely frozen is not only potentially dangerous for players but decreases the level of play which is disrespectful to the fan that payed good money to watch this gong show. If Canada wants to qualify for the World Cup that way, that's extremely cheap.

It's disrespectful for the game itself. It's one thing to make opponents play in certain conditions, it's a completely different thing to put the safety of players (extreme cold increases the likelihood of injuries as well) at risk just for the sake of qualifying. If I was a soccer fan, I would want to watch the best teams at the World Cup not teams that have qualified because of unplayable conditions (because yes, soccer games in those conditions normally get delayed or postponed).

Also what kind of image do we want project to the world (thank god it was mostly Mexicans who watched) when they see such scenes in November (not even in December, January or February)? Bye bye winter tourism.
I am sick and tired of having Canada associated with snow and cold. Our country is much more than that. I know quite a lot of people who refuse to visit Canada during the colder months exactly because of that. Play the game anywhere outside of the Prairies and you would have been fine.

Think about it, will the Russian team ever think of playing in Siberia? All their home games are played in Moscow (or the areas surrounding it), St-Petersburg or Sochi (and surrounding places).
It's just the Canadian federation that knows better and has to do things differently. Complete idiots.

[Jaws]

Thanks for laugh

[urbanroo]

Edmonton gets big soccer games because it has a history of drawing huge home crowds. It all started back in 1994 with an international friendly against Brazil that drew over 50k fans at a time when Toronto or Montreal would only ever draw a few thousand, most of whom were cheering for the other team! The atmosphere in the "Ice"-teca stadium was exactly the energy needed to prevail at what were perhaps the pivotal two games of the qualification round. From the Mexican media I watched, I saw a lot of complaints about their goalkeeper and players, but they thought the cold went with the territory and was part of the home festivities. The cold got positive coverage in the US as well; it made the game memorable. My only wish is the Edmonton ground crew could do a better job covering up the CFL markings. Presumably they will do this for the 2026 World Cup.

[urbanroo]

Originally Posted by Nicko999

Also what kind of image do we want project to the world (thank god it was mostly Mexicans who watched) when they see such scenes in November (not even in December, January or February)? Bye bye winter tourism.
I am sick and tired of having Canada associated with snow and cold. Our country is much more than that. I know quite a lot of people who refuse to visit Canada during the colder months exactly because of that. Play the game anywhere outside of the Prairies and you would have been fine.

.

I don't know man, people from warm countries tend to like the cold. Certainly works for winter tourism in Banff and Quebec City. You get enough cold in Montreal so I understand why you don't want to see even more of it in Edmonton. For people from the tropics, though, the cold and snow are novelties, something they want to experience. I personally think Montreal, always an attractive city, looks its most charming after a big dump of snow.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I'm not, actually. I think it's great Edmonton got a shot at hosting a few matches.

But capacity doesn't dictate hosting, otherwise we'd be hosting in Edmonton and Montreal by default, and the Americans wouldn't be hosting in Cincinnati and Columbus in ~25K stadiums. Doing so would ignore other qualifiers such as travel for the team, suitable training facilities (Canada and Mexico had to practice indoors due to the weather), hotels, and other accommodations and logistics. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver, along with having simply better facilities, are better able to handle these demands.

World Cup qualifiers aren't about how many tickets can be sold - they're about how best Canada is able to win and providing them the best possible conditions to do so. Playing a snowbowl does not do that despite the rhetoric that many here like to use.


Why even host games at Commonwealth if Olympique can hold more people?


Being in the G7 has nothing to do with anything, but maybe CMNT actually being good for the first time in forever will spur us into building and supporting an actually good soccer facility for our national program instead of using old relics from yesteryear.

God help this forum if anything gets built in the GTA, though.


And if it wasn't as far away as possible for travel purposes.

Travel from where? I'm pretty sure some US soccer matches are outside of New York City including Los Angeles.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by Nicko999

Absolutely... it's an embarrassment for Canadian soccer and disrespectful for the players, the fans and for the game of soccer. The team definitely lost my respect and will not follow their journey anymore.

If it bothers you that much, then you were never much of a soccer fan in the first place.

Making teams play in the heat or in the altitude is one thing. Making the team play in -10C weather when the ball is completely frozen is not only potentially dangerous for players but decreases the level of play which is disrespectful to the fan that payed good money to watch this gong show. If Canada wants to qualify for the World Cup that way, that's extremely cheap.

How is this any different than having the World Cup in Qatar, which besides the complete corruption of the bid, is extremely arid, and temperatures can average 40 C. Your point about "fans who paid good money" made me laugh. Tickets ranged from $22.50-$60.00. That's a fraction of what NHL or NBA games cost.

It's disrespectful for the game itself. It's one thing to make opponents play in certain conditions, it's a completely different thing to put the safety of players (extreme cold increases the likelihood of injuries as well) at risk just for the sake of qualifying. If I was a soccer fan, I would want to watch the best teams at the World Cup not teams that have qualified because of unplayable conditions (because yes, soccer games in those conditions normally get delayed or postponed).

Give me a break. I think it's obvious that you are incredibly thin skinned, or a troll. It's Canada. Just like other countries like Russia and Scandinavia, they play International games in sub-zero weather occasionally. They have football games every year in November outdoors. They have played NHL hockey games outdoors in January. Additionally, if you had your way the sports of skiing, bobsled, snowboarding, and outdoor ice hockey would not exist.

PS....last time I checked, Iceland played in arguably colder conditions, and were the darlings of Euro 2016. Incidentally, tourism has spiked dramatically in the last decade.

Also what kind of image do we want project to the world (thank god it was mostly Mexicans who watched) when they see such scenes in November (not even in December, January or February)? Bye bye winter tourism.
I am sick and tired of having Canada associated with snow and cold. Our country is much more than that. I know quite a lot of people who refuse to visit Canada during the colder months exactly because of that. Play the game anywhere outside of the Prairies and you would have been fine.

The ratings just came in. 1.15 million Canadians watched the game, which is double than what Sportsnet NHL in Canada usually does. I've seen people all over the World complimenting us for our play and atmosphere, and the large crowds who attended the games.

Your second point is one of the most convoluted and ridiculous thins I have ever read on this forum. "Bye Bye, Tourism?" Everyone in the World knows what Canada is like in Winter. That is precisely why some people come to Canada in the winter- to ski, snowboard, go to Banff, and see the Columbia Icefields. Canada is what it is. If Canada makes you embarrassed, than move to a warmer country,

Think about it, will the Russian team ever think of playing in Siberia? All their home games are played in Moscow (or the areas surrounding it), St-Petersburg or Sochi (and surrounding places).
It's just the Canadian federation that knows better and has to do things differently. Complete idiots.

Most of Russia has similar weather as Canada. Playing in Siberia would be the equivalent of playing in Northern Manitoba or Yellowknife.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Nicko999

It's just the Canadian federation that knows better and has to do things differently. Complete idiots.

Untrue, decision was made by the coach and the team's veteran's committee. They knew what they were getting into, thought it was worth the risk and it paid off. Does the fact that they may do it again in Hamilton or BMO in January bother you?

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by Nicko999

Absolutely... it's an embarrassment for Canadian soccer and disrespectful for the players, the fans and for the game of soccer. The team definitely lost my respect and will not follow their journey anymore.

Making teams play in the heat or in the altitude is one thing. Making the team play in -10C weather when the ball is completely frozen is not only potentially dangerous for players but decreases the level of play which is disrespectful to the fan that payed good money to watch this gong show. If Canada wants to qualify for the World Cup that way, that's extremely cheap.

Playing in -10 c is cold but if you are a midfielder or striker its not so bad especially as in soccer you have to run and be in shape. I tend to see what look like out of shape players in other sports that wouldn't be able to cut it at soccer.

How is this different than playing in Qatar in the heat or a tropical country with intense heat and humidity.

Mexico always host at altitude and their fans have mastered the dark arts and throw all sorts of things on opposing players and hurl abuse at them and arrange late night parties outside the opponents hotels etc.

It was legal and quite frankly Canada is a cold country and that is what the rest of the world considers us to be.

[elly63]

The latest Jonathan David rumour mill has PSG, Newcastle and Inter Milan looking at him.

[megadude]

Back in school (U of Windsor) we played a Snowteca friendly game against the Euro exchange students. We already knew a lot of them as they lived on res with us already used to play pickup with us. A few of them used to be on the youth teams of pro clubs. One was Ajax as a GK, and then were was PSV, Malmo and a Belgian club. Every time these guys took a corner, they put such zip on the ball that we didn't want to head it for fear of concussion.

Anyway, in that match, the field was covered in snow, and it finished 2-1 for them I think. Our goal was when I took a free kick from half and launched it into the box where that Belgian guy went to head it but it skidded off his head and into his own net. I could only launch the ball that far because of the layer of snow underneath. And I'm guessing the conditions caused that Belgian guy to miscue for the OG. Good times. That was a fun game.

At least the pitch in Edmonton didn't look like this, from US vs. CR in 2013 WCQ in Denver. They apparently chose Denver because the next match was at the Azteca so might as well get used to the altitude. And a couple days before this game it was 15 degrees.


https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013...a-game-delayed


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...onditions.html

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by elly63

The latest Jonathan David rumour mill has PSG, Newcastle and Inter Milan looking at him.

His stock has had a metoric rise so far in 2021. Great to see a local boy making a splash on the world stage!

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It's related to the Canadian Soccer Association and the federal government's involvement in BMO Field:

https://www.canadasoccer.com/news/pa...ibition-place/

Reading that it strikes me as marketing claptrap more than anything, the kind of selling line governments use to justify a stadium subsidy.

But then again, I guess when you go by where the game was here in 2006, the original iteration of Beamo was roughly in line with what one might expect for "Canada's national soccer stadium".

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Travel from where? I'm pretty sure some US soccer matches are outside of New York City including Los Angeles.

In the January window Canada is in Honduras, then flying back to Canada, then flying to El Salvador in the space of a week. Flying to Ontario cuts a lot of time off the flight compared to BC. In other circumstances Vancouver is the furthest city away for players coming in from Europe during their seasons, which at this point is a growing number of CMNT players.

I really like Vancouver and BC Place as a venue for CMNT but it has its own challenges still.

Originally Posted by esquire

But then again, I guess when you go by where the game was here in 2006, the original iteration of Beamo was roughly in line with what one might expect for "Canada's national soccer stadium".

It still is, IMO. One could say that BMO has grown along with CMNT and TFC as they've grown over the last 15 years.

Originally Posted by Blackdog204

PS....last time I checked, Iceland played in arguably colder conditions, and were the darlings of Euro 2016. Incidentally, tourism has spiked dramatically in the last decade.

Reykjavik doesn't get that cold because of the jet stream. Average low at worst is usually just below freezing. Their stadium is also built to handle those conditions. And tourism didn't spike because they went to a EURO - it spiked because they offer incredibly cheap flights and had a good ad campaign.

Originally Posted by Blackdog204

Most of Russia has similar weather as Canada. Playing in Siberia would be the equivalent of playing in Northern Manitoba or Yellowknife.

Except Russia has never played a home match in Siberia. Ever. I wonder why?