TORONTO AND VANCOUVER SELECTED AS WORLD CUP 2026 HOST CITIES

FIFA / Soccer

Written by Aaron Cantin

After weeks, months, and years of speculation, it’s official. The eyes of the world will be on Vancouver and Toronto in 2026. At a made-for-TV event in New York, FIFA made its long-anticipated reveal of the host cities for the men’s World Cup, set to take place in Canada, the United States, and Mexico in 2026. Among the 16 North American cities chosen were Vancouver and Toronto. Edmonton, however, was left on the sidelines.

Source (Background Photo): BMO Field

The FIFA World Cup is expanding to include 48 participating countries, which will make the 2026 tournament the largest one ever held. A total of 80 matches are set to take place, with the United States hosting 60 of them. Canada and Mexico will receive 10 matches each. Here is a list of all host cities:

Host cities in Canada

Vancouver

Toronto

Host cities in the United States

Seattle

San Francisco

Los Angeles

Kansas City

Dallas

Atlanta

Houston

Boston

Philadelphia

Miami

New York/New Jersey

Host cities in Mexico

Guadalajara

Monterrey

Mexico City

Where significant games will be held (World Cup opener, knock-out matches, finals) will be held is still to be determined and will most likely only be released in 2024 or 2025.

We know now Vancouver and Toronto will host World Cup matches but there is plenty of preparation these two cities, particularly the venues need to accomplish before hosting the biggest sporting event in the world.

Vancouver

Matches in Vancouver will be held at BC Place and will not require nearly as much prep work as in Toronto. A real grass field will be installed at BC Place for the tournament, which is a requirement of FIFA for men’s World Cup matches. Considering we have four years to do this, the “prep” work for BC place is rather insignificant, especially compared to BMO Field.

Toronto

With a minimum capacity of 45,000 needed for World Cup matches, BMO will be seeing a significant expansion in the coming years. BMO Field will be adding an additional 17,756 seats to the previously existing capacity of 27,980, making the total capacity of the venue 45,736 seats in time for the tournament.

New additions look to be slated at the north and south ends of the stadium, behind the previously existing stands. Each of the stadium’s two endzones will add a second tier, to go along with the previously existing two-tiered stands on the two sidelines. In total, the cost of hosting the games (along with the expansion) is projected to be about $290 million, according to a city report.

If a real grass field is not installed at BC Place and added seat requirement is not constructed at BMO Field in time FIFA has the right to relocate the host cities. Considering we have over three years to get the job done I think we’re safe to begin celebrating.