Soccer in Canada | Canada Hosting the 2026 World Cup

[Hackslack]

Originally Posted by drew

^ any stadium used with even a secondary intention for Toronto to get an NFL team should not have a nickel of federal funding.

Agreed. And I’m not one to think an NFL team would end up in TO, I just can’t ever see it happening, with the cost of purchasing the team and building a new stadium likely 6+ billion dollars… BUT all I’m saying is that if there ever was a time to have that cost subsidized, now would be it. But I’m like you and believe not a nickel should be spend from federal funds.

[elly63]

2026 FIFA World Cup host cities announcement LIVE at 5pm et/2pm pt on TSN1/5, streaming on TSN Direct and on TSN.ca. (and Fox Sports 1)

[elly63]

Vancouver, Toronto are in. Edmonton is out.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Way to go Toronto, all the other cities have some pretty recognizable people welcoming the World Cup and you serve up John “nearly dead” Tory??
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[Denscity]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Way to go Toronto, all the other cities have some pretty recognizable people welcoming the World Cup and you serve up John “nearly dead” Tory??
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Haha I noticed that!

[elly63]

That was lame, I don't even think he was properly miked.

[Coldrsx]

Not really surprising given that you want the largest, sexiest, best markets... but this really stung for me and all of Edmonton.

That said, congratulations to all of the host cities.

[Base]

Doubly gutting for Edmonton thinking about the water Edmonton's host city bid carried for the Canadian portion of the joint bid. With Montreal and Toronto out, imagine if Edmonton would have folded as well... Would have looked pretty ridiculous over the last few years with Canada rolling out 1 city in Toronto with BMO field.

Obviously congrats to the cities selected but I would love to hear why Canada was shunned from having the expected 3 host cities but Mexico was able to manage.

[Coldrsx]

Minister of Culture Ron Orr issued the following statement on the recent FIFA World Cup 2026 host city announcement:

“We share in the collective disappointment with soccer fans here in Alberta and across Canada that Edmonton was not chosen as one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“It is unfortunate that soccer fans will not experience the beauty and vibrancy of Edmonton and our province as a whole. Alberta’s government worked hard and committed a significant financial sum to help the bid along. Our province has hosted countless world-class sporting events. Commonwealth Stadium is the biggest facility in Western Canada and would play an excellent host.

“While they won’t have the opportunity to see the games here, we do hope fans visiting Canada watch the matches and take the opportunity to travel to Alberta and experience our first-class western hospitality, our picturesque landscapes and our energetic cities.

“I wish to thank the City of Edmonton for its courage and vision. Your enthusiasm for these games has been noteworthy. We share your disappointment with this decision. I congratulate the successful 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities.”


Media inquiries

Savannah Johannsen
780-686-3521
Press Secretary, Culture and Status of Women

[Coldrsx]

@FIFAWorldCup
Your #FIFAWorldCup 2026 Host Cities:

[blueandgoldguy]

Congrats to the host cities in Canada.

Edmonton got screwed, but what are you gonna do?

Glad BC Place will be getting the majority of games if the rumours of 6 games is true. It's the closest thing to a World Class Stadium in Canada factoring in the recent renovations.

BMO Field will be the only stadium that will require temporary seats. Oof. Oh well, I guess some city has to have the worst stadium in the World Cup.

[TownGuy]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

@FIFAWorldCup
Your #FIFAWorldCup 2026 Host Cities:

Kansas City and no Chicago?

[Nite]

Originally Posted by TownGuy

Kansas City and no Chicago?

Chicago like Vancouver pulled out of hosting because of the FIFA requirements in the early stages. Vancouver managed to weaseled it's way back however.

[EpicPonyTime]

Would be very interested to know the reasons why Edmonton wasn't chosen. IIRC the plan was always to have three host cities; plan must have changed once Montreal dropped out. Absolute joke that Mexico gets three cities and we don't.

[logan5]

If I recall correctly, Canada would be getting 2 round of 16 games. I wonder if that's where the 2 extra games to Vancouver comes from, given the huge disparity between BMO and BC Place. That would be huge for Vancouver as you would likely see at least a couple high profile soccer countries like Brazil or France playing here.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by logan5

If I recall correctly, Canada would be getting 2 round of 16 games. I wonder if that's where the 2 extra games to Vancouver comes from, given the huge disparity between BMO and BC Place. That would be huge for Vancouver as you would likely see at least a couple high profile soccer countries like Brazil or France playing here.

Maybe things have changed, as I thought I heard Mexico would at least be getting one elimination game, but when the initial announcements were made for the World Cup a few years ago, it was stated that Mexico and Canada would not receive any matches beyond the initial 2 round robin portions of the tournament...so nothing for the round of 16 and beyond.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Maybe things have changed, as I thought I heard Mexico would at least be getting one elimination game, but when the initial announcements were made for the World Cup a few years ago, it was stated that Mexico and Canada would not receive any matches beyond the initial 2 round robin portions of the tournament...so nothing for the round of 16 and beyond.

What I heard just this week was that all games from the quarter finals on (round of 8) would be played in the U.S. That suggests some round of 16 games would be played in Canada.

[mapleleaf66]

It is a shame Edmonton lost out. The atmosphere for the qualifier games here last Nov was fantastic. I went to both and the crowd was great. I saw Canada beat China(?) at the women's World Cup in 2015 where Christine Sinclair scored and that game was fantastic as well.

It is not just the game itself but all the hype and media attention prior to the matches that are what is most compelling. I had a friend attend a world cup match in France and he said the entire city he was in was on steroids. It was nothing but parties and fun atmosphere. Vancouver and Toronto are going to be going crazy, especially if there are big teams playing there.

Soccer fans in Edmonton are disappointed now but they'll feel even worse come 2026.

[Al Ski]

Originally Posted by mapleleaf66

It is a shame Edmonton lost out. The atmosphere for the qualifier games here last Nov was fantastic. I went to both and the crowd was great. I saw Canada beat China(?) at the women's World Cup in 2015 where Christine Sinclair scored and that game was fantastic as well.

It is not just the game itself but all the hype and media attention prior to the matches that are what is most compelling. I had a friend attend a world cup match in France and he said the entire city he was in was on steroids. It was nothing but parties and fun atmosphere. Vancouver and Toronto are going to be going crazy, especially if there are big teams playing there.

Soccer fans in Edmonton are disappointed now but they'll feel even worse come 2026.

Edmonton dodged a costly bullet.

FIFA is a criminal organization that siphons taxpayer money from dupe cities.

There have been umpteen studies that prove that, at best, hosting these boondoggles may at best be revenue neutral - and that's only if you host the final.

And we're just hosting a bunch of newly-created, b.s. garbage matches.

We're not hosting the World Cup, we're just hosting FIFA grift garbage matches.

Vancouver and Toronto are willing dupes - they'll get stuck with the bills and little to show.

There's not going to be any significant 'tourist boom' it's just going to redirect local money that would be otherwise spent.

And if you thought you were going to get some sort of 'World Wide Exposure' then I have to ask - do you watch sports, at all?

[Nite]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Would be very interested to know the reasons why Edmonton wasn't chosen. IIRC the plan was always to have three host cities; plan must have changed once Montreal dropped out. Absolute joke that Mexico gets three cities and we don't.

Apparently Jason Kennedy was demanding Edmonton get 5 games in order to get provincial funding. FIFA said no and asked Vancouver to come back in the bidding process.