Vancouver, Toronto Among Host Cities for 2026 World Cup

Vancouver, Toronto Among Host Cities for 2026 World Cup
Team Canada’s Tajon Buchanan (11) celebrates his goal with teammate Cycle Larin after scoring against Jamaica during first half men's World Cup qualifier soccer action in Toronto on March 27, 2022. the Canadian Press/Nathan Denette
The Canadian Press
Updated:

World Cup games will be played in Vancouver and Toronto when Canada, the United States, and Mexico co-host the men’s soccer tournament in 2026.

Edmonton was also considered but was not among the host cities announced by FIFA on Thursday.

Instead, the American cities of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, New York/New Jersey, and Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara in Mexico will get games in the expanded 48-game tournament.

Montreal dropped out of Canada’s bid last August after the Quebec provincial government withdrew its support, citing cost overruns that would have been difficult to justify to taxpayers.

Vancouver’s B.C. Place hosted nine games during the 2015 Women’s World Cup, including the final which drew more than 50,000 fans, and Toronto hosted the Pan American Games in 2019.

Both B.C. Place and Toronto’s BMO Field will require upgrades ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with Vancouver set to install a grass playing surface and Toronto expected to expand the stadium’s capacity to the FIFA minimum of 40,000.