After many problems and doubts Vancouver is an official candidate to hold football games during the Men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Both the province and the City of Vancouver have submitted documents to join the candidate Host City process, with BC Place as the proposed stadium. The authorities wondered whether this is a good decision, taking into account economic problems and financial uncertainty. However, it can be observed that in recent months people, hungry for entertainment after the pandemic, are very eager to participate in cultural and sports events or take part in crypto gambling.

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The tournament will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries. Sixty matches, including the quarterfinals, semi-finals and the final, will be played in the United States while neighboring Canada and Mexico will each host 10 fixtures. 

According to earlier reports, the town could host between three to five games. Other possible Canadian Host Cities are Toronto and Edmonton. The tournament will be the first in history hosted by three nations. It will also be the first championship to include 48 teams, expanded from 32.

We are coming out of a global problems. Our tourism sector has been buffeted, perhaps more than any other sector over the past 16 months, and the prospect of inviting the world to Vancouver in 2026 all of a sudden takes on a whole new meaning - said the Mayor of Vancouver, Kennedy Stewart.

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BC Place is a beautifully situated multipurpose venue with a capacity of 54.500 seats. It is located at Downtown Vancouver’s stadium-district owned and operated by the BC Pavilion Corporation, a Crown corporation of the province. The cable-supported fabric retractable roof is the largest of its kind in the world - designed and engineered specifically for Vancouver’s climate.

This will not be the first big international soccer event at this stadium. In 2015 Canada hosted the Women’s FIFA World Cup and the final took place at BC Place. In the USA - Japan match, the Americans turned out to be better, winning 5:2. The players were cheered by 53,341 fans.

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Hosting the event would be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for soccer fans, for our tourism sector and for all British Columbians. We expect this event to be a magnet for visitors to support local business in beautiful British Columbia - summed up Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.