KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Vancouver has come on board the likely Canadian host city panel for the 2026 World Cup finals.

Canada will host the finals jointly with Mexico and United States and Victor Montagliani, Canadian president of regional confederation CONCACAF, was embarrassed last July when the city of Montreal decided to withdraw.

The decision left only Edmonton and Toronto to represent Canada in the roster of cities hopeful of selection. Several northern cities in the US had unofficially suggested that they might fill the vacancy.

Now Vancouver, which staged the 2015 Women’s World Cup Final and withdrew early in the 2026 selection process, has been brought back on board.

A FIFA statement said:

Following the submission of documentation by the Province of British Columbia/City of Vancouver in order to join the candidate host city process (with BC Place as the proposed stadium), as well as a recent inspection visit by a FIFA delegation, world football’s governing body has agreed to accept the city’s candidacy.

Vancouver is not new to FIFA events, having successfully hosted several matches during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, including the final in front of over 50,000 spectators.

** Amy Hopfinger and Dan Flynn have been appointed to key leadership roles within the local FIFA subsidiary in the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Hopfinger joins as chief strategy and planning officer after serving US Soccer in a variety of important roles over 18 years while Flynn, who recently concluded 19 years of service at US Soccer as general secretary and ceo, joins as senior executive advisor.

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