So the 2026 World Cup is coming to Vancouver. Here’s what we know

Fist pumps were heard and fireworks were displayed at B.C. Place Stadium was the host city for the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup.

However, the cheers have subsided, and the giddy politicians are now home, but there are still questions. Not least, how many games will Vancouver get?   

Canada has been allocated 10 total. Toronto’s BMO Field was also included in the allocation, so a 50/50 split seems reasonable.

But B.C. Place is a larger stadium than BMO Field, with 15,000 more seats. Many speculate that Vancouver could eventually be given six games instead of Toronto’s four. An official announcement will follow at a later date. 

Here are some more questions we attempted to answer.

Hosting games in Vancouver costs between $240 million to $260 million. Who pays? 

According to B.C. According to the B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, costs are split between the three levels of government: municipal, federal, and provincial. According to its own policy regarding hosting international sports events, the federal government could contribute as much as 35% of the total price tag.

Negotiations on a multiparty agreement will be held in the coming weeks. 

How did the cost estimate come to be?

The cost estimate includes both capital and operating costs. B.C. is an example of operating costs. B.C. costs include staffing, running the required training stations and Fan Fest, which is slated for the Pacific National Exhibition grounds. Costs for traffic management and security in Vancouver, including policing, are also included. 

Installing natural grass turf in B.C. is one of the capital costs. Place Stadium, the training sites, and any other facility upgrades and creations of the Fan Fest. 

What are some unknowns that could affect the final price tag of the product?

The ministry saidThe estimate includes contingencies that cover details that are not known, such as transportation requirements, match numbers, traffic management, ambulance, health services, public safety planning, and traffic management. An update is planned for fall.

What do we know about Fan Fest at the PNE

This will be a live streaming site that shows every game of the 80-game tournament. The tournament runs from June 8th through July 3, 2026. There are 48 teams. For the group stage, that means three games per day on the big screen.

Michelle Collens, Vancouver Sport Hosting senior manager, said the PNE’s size and scope make it a good fit for the Fan Fest. She hopes other communities will follow her lead and host public viewing venues.

“I believe one of the greatest things that we did during the 2010 was to create a community. [Olympic]Games was that we had a variety of live site celebrations in British Columbia.” said Collens. Collens.

What 2026 World Cup-related events are possible in Vancouver?

Collens said as the next part of the bid process, Vancouver will be running to host the 2026 World Cup draw, scheduled for December 2025.

“As a host, we would love to have Vancouver as a draw for that event.” [and]It will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with the backdrop of North Shore mountains.” she said. “We’re prepared for that.”

FIFA will also be seeking to place a 2026 World Cup sponsorship Summit and an international broadcast center for the tournament. Canada Soccer has committed that it will host at least five international matches in Vancouver during the tournament’s preparations.

Why is the artificial turf at B.C. so important? It is necessary to replace artificial turf with natural grass.

FIFA has made natural grass, which is less likely than artificial grass to cause injury, a requirement for World Cup matches. 

Collens states that the world governing body for soccer has turf experts who will work across all 16 venues to ensure consistency in the fields. The cost of bringing in natural turf has not been determined.

Where will the training facilities be located? 

FIFA has set a 25-kilometre limit on where training sites can be located relative to players’ hotels.

Collens saidVancouver Park Board will host at least one training site. UBC is also a strong candidate. At least two training facilities will be required, perhaps three.

Why are political leaders so convinced that hosting 2026 World Cup matches is a good idea

Tourism is the answer.

According to the province hosting five or six World Cup matches could generate more than $1 billion in revenue for B.C.The tournament could bring in 269,000 visitors to Canada and the U.S. for its tourism sector over the five years.