Vancouver re-enters the World Cup 2026 hosting race

April 17 – Canada looks set to have three cities hosting matches at the 2026 World Cup which it is jointly hosting with the US and Mexico.

Vancouver, having initially made a bid application in 2017 before withdrawing over concerns over FIFA’s requirements – in particular tax waivers and putting agreements in Swiss law – has been re-admitted.

The 54,500-capacity BC Place stadium, home of the Vancouver Whitecaps who play in the MLS, will be the centrepiece of the Vancouver bid.

It was originally envisaged that Canada would have three host cities for 2026, however Montreal dropped out nine months, leaving Edmonton and Toronto as the host candidate cities. Vancouver brings the complement back up to three.

It was a big week for football in Vancouver last week as not only did the city announce its re-entry into bidding for 2026 World Cup hosting, but the city was also chosen as an expansion location for the Canadian Premier League (CPL).

The township of Langley will become the CPL’s ninth franchise, the team beginning play in Spring 2023. The team is owned by SixFive Sports & Entertainment LP, a Canadian-based investment fund.

2026 bidding heats up

Canada and Mexico are expected to host 10 matches each in 2026, with the US hosting the remaining 60 games in 10 stadiums. All games from the quarter finals onwards will be played in the US.

Having completed its inspection visits in November last year – though Vancouver was not part of those inspections – FIFA is expected to announce the final venues this month.

Mexican cities and venues bidding are Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio BBVA in Monterrey and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.

In the US the bidding is intense with 18 stadiums in 17 areas bidding: Los Angeles, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena; Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium; Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Baltimore, M&T Bank Stadium; Cincinnati, Paul Brown Stadium; Denver, Empower Field at Mile High; East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium; Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium; Houston, NRG Stadium; Inglewood, California, SoFi Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri, Arrowhead Stadium; Landover, Maryland, FedEx Field; Miami Gardens, Florida, Hard Rock Stadium; Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan Stadium; Orlando, Florida, Camping World Stadium; Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field; Santa Clara, California, Levi’s Stadium; Seattle, Lumen Field.

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