610 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

HYPOCRISY ALERT : Eby once opposed Olympics, now hides FIFA spending

 

 

https://www.westerns...-spending/73809

 

 

The Eby-led BC NDP government says updated FIFA World Cup hosting costs won’t be released until after the spring legislative session ends May 28 — just weeks before the tournament kicks off.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 May 2026 - 08:41 AM.

[Daveyboy]

Eby sure knows how to push my buttons.......

[Mike K.]

A North Vancouver soccer fan says FIFA should be more transparent about where fans could end up sitting after he paid nearly $1,000 for a World Cup ticket — for what turns out to be an obstructed view.

As a long time fan of the game, Payam Sabzmeydani says he bought three Category 1 tickets for the Canada-Switzerland match on June 24 at B.C. Place.

…

“We go to Whitecaps games, I know the layout of the stadium,” he said. “It’s right behind the goals.”

Sabzmeydani says similar seats are usually among the lower-priced lower-bowl seats for Vancouver Whitecaps games.

…

Sabzmeydani's concerns come as attorneys general in New York and New Jersey have subpoenaed FIFA as part of an investigation into ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup.

- https://www.cbc.ca/n...utiny-9.7218700

It’s a full on comedy now. It’s not clear if the guy paid $3,000 for all three tickets.

[Victoria Watcher]

FIFA’s World Cup stadium code bans vuvuzelas, says body paint isn’t clothing

https://cheknews.ca/...othing-1328472/

[Victoria Watcher]

‘Biggest Canadian flag’ unfurled in Vancouver for World Cup, but may breach etiquette

https://cheknews.ca/...quette-1328409/

 

However, the display of the flag appears to breach etiquette set out by the federal government, which dictates that national flags should never touch the ground.

The Maple Leaf should also point to the left when the flag is displayed vertically, not the right as it appears on the Grouse Mountain flag when viewed from Vancouver.

Adam Rootman, senior director of marketing at Grouse Mountain Resort, said on Wednesday that it was his understanding that it was OK for the flag to be displayed on the ground.

“From our perspective, we’re just looking to do something really patriotic and an activation that was respectful to the flag and to our country. So, that’s what we feel is an important part of the overall installation,” said Rootman.

 

 

I think as seen from downtown, it will be the "right way up".

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 June 2026 - 05:02 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 will have 16 Arsenal players playing for their respective countries this month.

 

https://www.football...ld-cup-34049581

 

England’s Premier League dominates the elite ranking, with five clubs among the top 10. Manchester City leads the way with 19 players set to appear at the World Cup, followed by Arsenal in third place with 16. Crystal Palace ranks sixth with 12 representatives, while Manchester United and Liverpool each contribute 11 players.

 

Among clubs from other leagues, Bayern Munich sits second with 18 players, while Paris Saint-Germain shares third place with Arsenal on 16. Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Atlético de Madrid are tied for sixth with 12 representatives apiece.

 

 

 

https://www.beinspor...-cup-2026-06-03

 

 

 

 

 

Crazy.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 June 2026 - 03:13 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

With the World Cup and summer heat fast approaching, FIFA says it will no longer allow fans to bring their own water bottles into host stadiums for the tournament, drawing the ire of fans and host city politicians.

 

FIFA’s stadium rules had stated that fans could bring in a transparent, reusable bottle up to one litre.

 

The latest document dated Tuesday now states “for the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.”

 

In Toronto, where BMO Field normally allows empty, non-glass water bottles inside, city councillor Josh Matlow says he’s written to Toronto’s FIFA secretariat, asking her to push back on FIFA’s policy.

 

“They should be discussing this with us rather than just telling us, and also working toward a solution to ensure that people who are under the exposed sun in 30-degree or higher weather during a long game will have ready access to drinking water,” he said.

 

“This is just a basic health and safety issue.”

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...ttles-9.7223610

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health and safety?   I think if you can afford a WC ticket you can afford "inside food".

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 June 2026 - 03:59 PM.

[Matt R.]

Weird, under my liquor license I am obligated to provide free drinking water, stadiums aren’t?

[Victoria Watcher]

Go into the washroom sink and cup your hands. Sheesh.

[Victoria Watcher]

Vancouver, Toronto pay for World Cup with public money as U.S. host cities tap private sponsors

 

https://www.theglobe..._medium=twitter

 

After spending more than a billion dollars for 13 World Cup games, Canada’s two host cities should have a frank discussion about how these kind of mega-tournaments are best paid for in the future, the head of Toronto’s host authority says.

 

Sharon Bollenbach, executive director of the FIFA World Cup 2026 for the City of Toronto, acknowledged the combined municipal, provincial and federal spending for the marquee tournament has given some people sticker shock. It’s expected to cost around $380-million to host six games in Toronto. In Vancouver, hosting costs could top $700-million.

 

“I think that’s always a good discussion to have,” Ms. Bollenbach told The Globe and Mail. “We should always be evaluating and looking at how we do things, and is there a better model? Is there a different way? I think that’s healthy and should be part of the discussion about hosting major events going forward.”

 

Ms. Bollenbach made her remarks in an interview with The Globe after being asked about the decision by some U.S. hosts, such as the San Francisco Bay Area, to rely more heavily on private funding and corporate sponsorships to finance their World Cup games. That’s in contrast to Vancouver and Toronto’s games, which are being almost exclusively bankrolled by taxpayers.

 

The cost of hosting six games in the Bay Area will be about US$45-million, much of that to be covered by the private sector. The federal government is contributing another US$50-million in funding for security.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, Yesterday, 08:50 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Toronto says only a fraction of the 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets it bought as an investment remain unsold, with the soccer gamble looking set to pay off a week before the games begin.

Officials put a plan into action last year to use host city privileges to buy more than 3,500 general admissions tickets to the six international soccer matches taking place in Toronto, planning to sell them on for a profit to fund future events.

Fifty-two of the tickets were put aside to run a sweepstakes, while the city also shelled out millions more to buy hospitality tickets to be resold as “a revenue generation strategy.”

Now, with one week to go until Canada versus Bosnia and Herzegovina marks the beginning of the World Cup in Toronto, the city is suggesting its strategy has paid off.

“There are currently less than 70 unsold tickets of the 3,546 tickets purchased, and these are expected to sell out through the Host City Donor agreements before the tournament,” a spokesperson told Global News.

They said the tickets had been sold to “groups ranging from corporations to the passionate supporters of the countries playing in Toronto, ensuring a return on the City of Toronto’s investment, and providing access to this historic event.”

https://globalnews.c...nue-generation/

 

 

 

Selling World Cup tickets for more than face value could get you a $25,000 fine And that goes for FIFA’s resale platform, too, according to the premier

 

https://torontolife....u-a-25000-fine/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, Today, 04:25 AM.