Regina floated as possible World Cup 2026 host city

Mosaic Stadium in Regina is being considered as a possible game venue for the 2026 soccer World Cup, should a joint U.S.-Mexico-Canada bid for the FIFA tournament succeed.

As it readies to send its final proposal to soccer’s governing body in March, the “United 2026” bid committee has included the Queen City venue on a long list of nine Canadian facilities that could potentially host the world’s biggest stars.

With the committee sending Requests for Information to 44 North American cities — covering 49 stadiums — Regina has until Sept. 5 to declare firm interest.

A venue shortlist will be finalized by late September, with advancing cities then having until January to submit their full bids to the committee and hope they are among the 20 to 25 venues sent to FIFA by United 2026.

Doug Pederson, executive-director of the province’s governing body Soccer Saskatchewan, said it is working with the City of Regina, Tourism Saskatchewan, Evraz Place, Economic Development Regina and others to meet that first Sept. 5 milestone.

“Not only would it impact right here in Regina and Saskatchewan, but throughout all of Canada, for us to be involved in soccer at that level,” he said. “A FIFA World Cup is (on) another level; it would really put Regina on the map.”

Some 15,000 watched the New York Cosmos beat Valencia CF of Spain’s La Liga at Mosaic Stadium in July, but hosting a World Cup game would require a great deal more work. To put its hat in the ring, Regina must provide background on things like local infrastructure; successful similar events; accommodation capabilities; and possible team training sites.

“It’s a trade-off,” Pederson added. “You have to invest in infrastructure but the payoff is certainly there long term … when you attract the attention of the world by hosting an event of this type.”

The 2026 renewal sees the World Cup go to a 48-team format (up from 32), beginning with an initial 16 groups of three teams. With such a large number to accommodate, if Mosaic Stadium isn’t picked to host a game, Regina could still act as a base for a team playing elsewhere.

To have an opportunity for kids to see that in our own city? It would be a life-changer for soccer players (here).

Kevin Holness is technical director of FC Regina, which caters for soccer players from U4 level all the way up to adults. He said Tuesday his phone hadn’t stopped ringing since the news broke.

“It’s unimaginable that it could be in our own backyard in Regina,” he said. “To have an opportunity for kids to see that in our own city? It would be a life-changer for soccer players (here).”

Holness, a former Canadian soccer international, said attracting Valencia was a previously unimaginable boost that showed what the city can achieve.

“I think the sky’s the limit,” he said. “You would never think that a team from La Liga would play in Regina (even) two years ago.”

Grounds hosting World Cup group games must have a capacity of 40,000, and there is room for an expansion to this magic number at Mosaic Stadium.

“Our expectations should be that much stronger (now),” Holness said. “Why not have that idea, that this could very well happen? I think a lot of the soccer enthusiasts are really fired up. If you live the game as much as a lot of us do, it feels like it’s right around the corner. Even to be considered … it’s enormous.”

The nine Canadian stadiums listed by United 2026 span seven cities. They include bigger arenas like the Stade Olympique in Montreal (61,004), Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton (56,302) and Toronto’s Rogers Centre (53,506), right down to the Stade Saputo in Montreal (20,801).

The tournament’s destination will be decided at the FIFA Congress in June 2018, with Morocco the other confirmed bidder.