Key takeaways:
- Men’s games to taking place across Canada, Mexico, U.S.
- The stadium was picked alongside Toronto’s BMO Field as one of two Canadian host places for the 2026 World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup is arriving in Vancouver and Toronto, but fanatics in Edmonton will skip out when Canada, the U.S., and Mexico co-host the men’s football matches.
FIFA declared Thursday that the extended 48-team games would see matches played in 16 cities across North America, including Vancouver and Toronto, the American cities of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey. Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara will host the games in Mexico.
Edmonton also requested to be a host.
“We did everything we could to bring these games to Edmonton because we know we’re a great host city,” stated Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
City officials operated late over the last couple of evenings to ensure FIFA that Edmonton could host games, he added.
Read more: Councilors back infrastructure boosts coming to Edmonton’s Chinatown
When the Alberta government declared $110 million in funding for the proposal earlier this year, it said that Edmonton had to host at least five matches, more than the bid book requested.
“We ensured FIFA that if there were any mistrusts on the commitment from the city, or the requirements from the region, that we’d work with FIFA to develop flexibility,” Sohi said.
The local government is unhappy Edmonton wasn’t picked, Culture Minister Ron Orr said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, football fans will not experience the magnificence and energy of Edmonton and our province as a whole,” he said.
“Alberta’s government worked hard and achieved a significant monetary sum to help the bid. Our region has hosted numerous world-class sporting events. Commonwealth Stadium is the biggest facility in Western Canada and would play an amazing host.”
Source – cbc.ca
