The 2026 World Cup may seem like a long way off now, but the ultimate soccer event will be here in no time. The venues will be spread across North America, with the USA, Mexico, and Canada all due to host games.
There are set to be two stadiums in use in the Great White North, with the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the BMO Field in Toronto both set to act as the stages for some of the biggest games in world football.
Can Canada Build on Their Last World Cup Appearance?
As one of the host nations in the next World Cup, Canada will get an automatic entry without having to qualify. This will mark their third appearance in the ultimate competition, after having appeared at the last edition in Qatar in 2022. They didn’t make it out of the group stages that time but will be eager to better that performance on home soil.
At the time of writing, Canada is listed around the middle of all teams in the football betting to win the World Cup. They're not favorites, but they aren't ranked as complete outsiders either. This suggests that sportsbooks are aware that they may represent an additional threat on home turf. They also have a few players who are likely to be global superstars by that time, which could be why some people believe they can build on their last appearance.
Football culture in Canada and the rest of North America is growing, and this has been helped by many of the top talents forging careers across the pond in the top leagues. This support will be essential to pushing the country forward and helping them get to the knockout stages of the next competition.
Canada Will Have Host Stadiums in Vancouver and Toronto
Most of the stadiums for the next World Cup are in the USA, but Canada will have two key locations to attract swathes of supporters from around the world. Organizers opted to use spots on opposite sides of the country that have easy access to the USA, with Vancouver and Toronto set to host games.
The Vancouver spot is the BC Place Stadium, which is a double bowl arena with a total capacity of 54,405. It’s a multipurpose ground that acts as the home for BC Lions in the Canadian Football League and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer. It is well-prepared for massive games, as it has already hosted the 2010 Winter Paralympics and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship match.
The BMO Field in Toronto is slightly smaller than the Vancouver site, with a capacity of 30,991. However, an expansion to 45,736 is planned of the World Cup. The stadium is currently the home of Toronto FC in the MLS and the Canada men’s national soccer team.
The World Cup is always a great opportunity for people to see some of the most impressive stadiums from around the world. Canada has the chance to spruce up two of its best locations before the paramount football event, and they are likely to attract thousands of fans.