Toronto to host World Cup 2026 games

[spaminator]

Toronto to host World Cup 2026 games
“It’s amazing that the World Cup is finally coming to Canada": Team Canada mid-fielder Jonathan Osorio

Author of the article:Scott Laurie
Publishing date:Jun 16, 2022 • 11 hours ago • 2 minute read • 6 Comments

Toronto has been selected as one of the host cities for the World Cup 2026, which is being shared by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

“It was very tough,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said of the choices. “All cities have done a great job — with passion. But you have to take decisions.”

The decision was unveiled by soccer’s governing body at a slick announcement in New York on Thursday afternoon.

It came at the end of a months-long competition to host an expanded tournament featuring 48 teams.

Sixteen cities across North America were chosen out of 22 vying for the honour.

Toronto and Vancouver were successful with their bids.

Edmonton fell short.

“The biggest show on earth will come to this part of the world,” Infantino said. “It will create something incredible for this part of the world.”


The news comes as Canada prepares for its return to the World Cup in November in Qatar.

“It’s amazing that the World Cup is finally coming to Canada,” said Team Canada mid-fielder Jonathan Osorio, who was in Manhattan for the announcement. “It’s something that I think as kids was hard to even dream of.”

Hosting the games was heavily promoted by Mayor John Tory.

But staging some of the ten games expected in Canada will require an expansion of BMO Field from 30,000 seats to the FIFA minimum of 40,000 seats.

A report by city staff estimated the cost of hosting the games at $290 million.

It is asking the federal government and Queen’s Park to cover two-thirds of the cost.


In March, a report by the city executive committee said “projected benefits of hosting five matches in Toronto include an estimated $307 million dollars of GDP impact, 3,300 jobs and 174,000 overnight visitors.”

When voted on by City Council in April, Councillor Gord Perks was the lone voice of opposition to accepting a nomination to host games.

“If I had those tens of millions of dollars, I would use it to expropriate properties to build affordable housing,” Perks told Council in April.

“If you are telling the 6,000 to 10,000 people in the city of Toronto who don’t have homes that we can’t solve your problem right now, you’re not in a position to take the same money and put it into something like FIFA”

slaurie@postmedia.com

Twitter: @_ScottLaurie

SUCCESSFUL SOCCER PITCH: Toronto to host World Cup 2026 games

Toronto has been selected as one of the host cities for the World Cup 2026, which is being shared by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Soccer fans welcome World Cup glory in Toronto
TFC fans hope expansion of BMO Field happens sooner rather than later

Author of the article:Scott Laurie
Publishing date:Jun 16, 2022 • 11 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

Fans are over the moon about Toronto being selected as one of 16 host cities for World Cup 2026, which is being held in North America.


Minor league soccer organizers, players, fans and businesses see it as a potential major boost for the sport and for the economy in the GTA.

“This time we’re going to have it right here, on our doorstep,” Oliver McMahon, president of Soccer in the Beach, said Thursday. “I think this city could explode. I think it will be wonderful.”

Among the young players gathered Thursday evening, there was excitement about the prospect of seeing global games played in Toronto.

“I think that’s amazing. It would be really fun to watch,” said Cole Mielniczuk, who was practising before a Thursday game.

“I think it’s really cool. That would be a lot of fun,” Poppy McMahon. “We don’t usually have a lot of big events happening. It’s usually everywhere else. So it’s cool.”


Soccer fans – especially those who attend TFC matches – the expansion of seating at BMO Field happens sooner rather than later.

Martin Omes, a longtime member of the TFC fan club the Red Patch Boys, watched the FIFA announcement with friends at a pub in Liberty Village.

“I’m very excited to see which games we are going to be getting,” said Omes, who will be attending November’s World Cup in Qatar.

“I was hoping Edmonton would as well considering how well they did in their support for Canada’s qualifying campaign,” he said. “It sucks that it wasn’t meant to be.”


Rocco Mastrangelo Jr., co-owner of the popular soccer hub Café Diplomatico on College St., said the landing World Cup matches will be a shot in the arm for Little Italy – and beyond.

“The city will be electric,” he said. “The World Cup is a huge draw and we’re one of the greatest cities in the world when it comes to being so diverse.”

Back on the pitch in the Beach, McMahon’s league has just under 1,000 kids registered and he said the numbers are steadily growing.

“What used to happen in the past is you’d get to 13 and the kids would all tail off. This would be their summer sport. They’re all hockey players really,” said McMahon who also coaches.

“Whereas now we are getting kids that want to keep going a little longer,” he said. “Which is lovely to see.”

The league has even helped launch a young player into the professional ranks.

Kobe Franklin, 19, a defender with Toronto FC II, started with Soccer in the Beach.

“It’s fantastic,” said McMahon.

slaurie@postmedia.com

Twitter: @_ScottLaurie

Soccer fans welcome World Cup glory in Toronto

Fans are over the moon about Toronto being selected as one of 16 host cities for World Cup 2026, which is being held in North America.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Toronto, Vancouver among host cities for 2026 World Cup
Author of the articleerek Van Diest
Derek Van Diest
Publishing date:Jun 16, 2022 • 7 hours ago • 4 minute read • Join the conversation

Toronto and Vancouver were selected to host games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Edmonton was left out in the cold.


Thursday in New York, FIFA announced the 16 host cities from 22 final candidates across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place in Vancouver made the cut, while Commonwealth Stadium was passed over.


“We are very proud of Canada’s candidate host cities for putting together substantial and compelling bids for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said Canada Soccer president Dr. Nick Bontis in a statement. “The competition for venue selection was the most robust in FIFA’s history. Today’s success is a testament to the cities, provinces, and federal government’s commitment and dedication in pursuit of hosting the most prestigious single sporting event in the world.


“We congratulate Toronto and Vancouver; we also wish to express our sincere appreciation to Edmonton for their historic support and desire to contribute to the growth and development of our sport in this country by hosting FIFA competitions.”


The 2026 World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams and will feature 80 games. The United States is expected to host upwards of 60 games, while Vancouver and Toronto are to split between eight to 10 games, as will Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara.

“It’s the first time ever, so it’ll be a challenge, but it will also be a great opportunity to bring it to North America to where we’re used to hosting massive events,” said FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani, a Vancouver native and former president of Canada Soccer. “This is the biggest of them all. It’s going to be a great challenge, but also a great opportunity for us.”

As a cohost, the Canadian men’s national team is expected to earn an automatic berth into the tournament.


Canada qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and will compete in the event for the first time since its only previous appearance in 1986 in Mexico.

“We have the rare opportunity of coming together as three neighbouring nations to use sport to transform and improve lives and communities,” Bontis said. “We look forward to supporting the host cities, our partners across Canada and in the USA and Mexico, and FIFA to deliver what is certain to be the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history.”

Of the 22 candidate cities, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami and New York were selected in the United States. Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara will host games in Mexico.


Originally, it was believed 10 host cities would be selected in the United States, while three would be in Canada and Mexico. With the exclusion of Edmonton, 11 cities in the United States were selected.

“Everybody put their best foot forward and they all did a great job,” Montagliani said. “There were a lot of factors, facility, geography, commercialisation, those are sort of the broad strokes. But to be honest, some of these decisions came down to this (Thursday) morning, because that how competitive it was.”

Vancouver had dropped out early in the bidding process when the B.C. provincial government, at the time, would not make the financial commitments required by FIFA.

Vancouver came back into the fold when a new provincial government was elected and made the financial commitment required to host the event.


The Alberta provincial government made the financial commitment just prior to the deadline imposed by FIFA, but it came with conditions requiring a minimum number of games and having Canada play in Edmonton. Montreal withdrew a year ago citing concerns over cost overruns.

“I don’t think that could have been a road block,” said Edmonton major Amarjeet Sohi. “We did send out letters (Wednesday) confirming the province’s commitment and the city’s commitment and the flexibility the province was willing to make.
“There might have been other factors that might have gone into the decision when FIFA was looking at which cities to select. We really appreciate the partnership from the province on this.”

The joint bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada was selected to host the 2026 tournament over Morocco in 2018. Canadian soccer star Alphonso Davies spoke on the bid’s behalf on selection night in Moscow, Russia.


The city of Toronto has committed to expanding BMO Field from 30,000 capacity to over 40,000, the minimum required by FIFA.

BC Place, which hosted the final of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, will be required to install a natural grass field.

Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton is the biggest stadium in Canada with a capacity of just over 56,000. BC Place has a capacity of over 54,000.

Mexico hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup, while the United States hosted the 1994 tournament. This is the first time the tournament is being hosted by three different countries. The 2002 World Cup was co-hosted by Korea and Japan.

“As a Canadian I’m proud the World Cup is coming to the country,” Montagliani said. “The one thing about the World Cup that is different than other events, is that it’s about the country. Being born and bred in Vancouver and having Vancouver as a host city is a fantastic moment and one that I don’t realize it now, but will realize it in 2026 of how special a moment it is.”

Email: dvandiest@postmedia.com

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Toronto, Vancouver among host cities for 2026 World Cup

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

torontosun.com

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Too bad. More crowds, More traffic. And no doubt taxpayer $ to build infrastructure.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Too bad. More crowds, More traffic. And no doubt taxpayer $ to build infrastructure.

They use taxpayer money to build infrastructure in Canaduh?

Shocking! Downright SOSHULIST, I tells ya!

 

[spaminator]

Too bad. More crowds, More traffic. And no doubt taxpayer $ to build infrastructure.

hopefully tourism dollars will lessen the blow.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

They use taxpayer money to build infrastructure in Canaduh?

Shocking! Downright SOSHULIST, I tells ya!

Infrastructure? More seats in a stadium is likely all that will last.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Infrastructure? More seats in a stadium is likely all that will last.

Yeah. Your term, remember? Way, WAAAAAAY back 52 minutes ago.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Yeah. Your term, remember? Way, WAAAAAAY back 52 minutes ago.

That was before I woke up fully. I meant infrastructure around the stadium. If they wanted to build real infrastructure, based upon their past and current metrics, they should be bidding on the 2056 world cup.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

That was before I woke up fully. I meant infrastructure around the stadium. If they wanted to build real infrastructure, based upon their past and current metrics, they should be bidding on the 2056 world cup.

OK, that's fair (pretty good shot, too).