608 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

FIFA says it wants to spread the party beyond just the game venues at B.C. Place in Vancouver and BMO Stadium in Toronto.

 

Up to 40 Canadian communities, yet to be named, will be part of a celebration of the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by Canada.

 

A source with a Victoria group, who requested anonymity because the deal is not officially done, said: “We can’t say yet, but there have been discussions about it.”

 

FIFA said in an announcement Wednesday that the Canada ­Celebrates events will kick-off in a B.C. city not yet named and Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 11 with the program featuring up to 40 stops across the country “transforming public spaces into vibrant gathering places with fans able to enjoy a live feed for match viewings at each of the celebration sites.”

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ations-11805389

 

 

Private business or existing recreation centres could do this just as well, but FIFA protects its trademarks, making this difficult.  So now the taxpayers have to pay more to "celebrate" even though the vast majority of celebratants will just watch the games at home like most of us.

[Matt R.]

The adult beverage association is already telling bars to get on with adjusting their liquor licenses so they can serve earlier, as in 9 am earlier. I guess some of the ‘marquee’ games are being played early due to tv broadcasting schedules.

[Victoria Watcher]

The adult beverage association is already telling bars to get on with adjusting their liquor licenses so they can serve earlier, as in 9 am earlier. I guess some of the ‘marquee’ games are being played early due to tv broadcasting schedules.

 

Eby should just do this by a province-wide tweak.  As they have done before.

[Victoria Watcher]

Cost overruns for Toronto and Vancouver are among the highest of all 16 cities co-hosting the World Cup in June. But unlike their American counterparts, they’re not scaling back their plans for the soccer tournament – they’ve just increased the budget.

 

[...]

 

Toronto’s estimated cost to host FIFA’s marquee event has grown from an estimated $30-million to $45-million in 2018 to $380-million today – roughly ten times what city councillors approved when they first supported a bid. Vancouver’s estimated costs, meanwhile, have swelled from roughly $240-million in 2022 to $624-million shared between all three levels of government, according to the latest update from the province.

 

Politicians in both cities now swing between celebrating the tournament’s global status and bemoaning its skyrocketing costs.

 

https://www.theglobe...onto-vancouver/

 

 

 

Mike is going to like this.     

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 January 2026 - 08:03 AM.

[Mike K.]

Can we get the Duncan fence team to have a look at the numbers?

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria will host a special one-day community event later this month as excitement builds ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The free, family-friendly Canada Celebrates the FIFA World Cup 2026 test event will take place March 31 on the grounds of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Organizers say the pilot event will transform the legislature lawn into a soccer hub where fans can gather to watch international matches, celebrate the sport and get a preview of the energy expected during the 2026 tournament.

https://cheknews.ca/...lature-1310525/

[Victoria Watcher]

2026 World Cup: FIFA Want to Replace Iran With Nation That Hasn’t Qualified Since 2014

 

https://www.givemesp...ootball-soccer/

 

 

 

 

Mike, are you hosting BYOB events at your house to watch, or are you watching all the games at a pub?  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 March 2026 - 07:22 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Donald Trump's claim that it would not be "appropriate" for Iran to take part in the 2026 World Cup "for their own life and safety" has been followed by the Iranians saying it should be co-hosts the United States who sacrifice their place instead.

 

US President Trump said in a post on social media that Iran would be "welcome to the World Cup" before signalling he felt they should not be involved.

 

Trump's comments came after Iran's Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, said his country were not in a position to participate in the tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June.

 

Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

 

But their participation has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

 

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries which host US military bases - Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

 

"The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety," Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday.

 

 

 

https://www.aol.com/...o0k8gkHIYzjTPRO

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 March 2026 - 01:06 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria is set to get an early taste of World Cup fever as a one-day celebration event arrives at the legislature next week.

The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 will make a stop in the capital on March 31, as the Canada Celebrates program hosts a high-energy test event on the grounds of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

The free, family-friendly event will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering fans a preview of the atmosphere expected when Canada co-hosts the tournament this summer. The day will feature live match broadcasts, entertainment and interactive soccer activities.

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...rch-31-1313516/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 March 2026 - 11:45 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

[m3m]

Maybe they should give out the 2026 FIFA Peace Prize to drum up sales

[Victoria Watcher]

Thousands of hotel rooms have been released back into Vancouver’s inventory ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but those working in the tourism industry say visitors shouldn’t expect prices to drop.

 

The B.C. Hotel Association says FIFA has cancelled between 70 and 80 per cent of the rooms it had initially booked in downtown Vancouver, which is about 15,000 nightly room reservations during the World Cup tournament between June 11 and July 19.

 

Paul Hawes, president and CEO of the association, says it’s standard practice for major events to reserve a block of hotel rooms for staff and media, but in this case the scale of the release is notable.

 

“It certainly does seem high,” he said, adding that similar cancellations are happening across all 16 host cities, including Toronto.

 

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...-2026-9.7146146

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 March 2026 - 11:47 PM.

[LJ]

Why are they releasing so many rooms?

[Victoria Watcher]

Why are they releasing so many rooms?

 

Less than expected demand from international media.

[Victoria Watcher]

From Bosnia and Herzegovina to Victoria, the World Cup soccer watch is on

 

The B.C. legislature will play host to a watch party starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday, a test event for the public watch parties that will be held across the country during the FIFA World Cup in June and July

 

 

https://www.timescol...-is-on-12079083

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 March 2026 - 09:21 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Vancouver Island fans won’t lack for places to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, especially those who enjoy their soccer in the company of others.

 

Seven Island regions have received grants from the B.C. government’s $1.7-million 2026 Community Event Support Fund to host free public festivities tied to big-screen viewings of the games. The one-time funding went to 32 municipalities, regional districts and First Nations in B.C.

 

Canada is co-hosting the World Cup with the U.S. and Mexico. Seven games, including two Canada group games and two knockout-round games, are scheduled for B.C. Place, and six games are at BMO Field in Toronto, including Canada’s opener on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Langford received $85,000 for watch-party activities and will show games on Station Avenue, which will become pedestrian-only for the duration of the World Cup, from the opening game June 11 in Mexico City to the final July 19 in New Jersey.

 

The city said it would release its schedule of World Cup watch parties and events over the coming weeks.

 

“Hosting a free community celebration throughout the World Cup is an opportunity for people to come together and share in the excitement of a global event,” Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson said in a statement.

 

 

https://www.timescol...events-12089262

[Victoria Watcher]

The Comox Valley is also receiving $60,000 to help put on a public viewing of Canada’s opening match on June 12.

 

https://cheknews.ca/...events-1315110/

 

 

It's at noon on a Friday.  Won't kids just watch it on TV at school?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 April 2026 - 04:38 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

[aastra]

--

 

 

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, soccer's global governing body is implementing a long-standing policy that will see many of North America's most recognizable stadiums stripped of their corporate-sponsored names for the duration of the tournament.

 

The practice, which FIFA has used for years in previous World Cups, is intended to prevent sponsors not affiliated with the organization from receiving exposure. As a result, 14 of the 16 host stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be known by new, more generic names that often reflect their city or region.

 

The name changes may create some confusion for attendees and viewers, as many of the stadiums are located in suburbs or neighboring cities rather than the major metropolitan area they are being named for.

 

--

 

 

 

The famed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, will keep its name for the tournament.

 

[m3m]

It’s an AI-generated image. None of the info on it is correct.

For example Dallas is the biggest stadium and has a capacity of about 94k