City council to vote on World Cup bid
Vancouver council will vote next week on whether to sign a deal in the city’s bid to become a World Cup host.
The agreement outlines the services the City of Vancouver would be willing to provide for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if included as a host in the United Bid, a coordinated bid by cities from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
If the United Bid is successful, and Vancouver makes the cut, the city would host between three and five soccer games. Vancouver is one of four Canadian cities in the running with Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton.
There are 25 U.S. and three Mexican cities in the bid.
Mayor Gregor Robertson says he is “very hopeful” Vancouver will be a host city.
“Vancouver is an obvious choice ... Our bid package is very strong, we have the infrastructure and amenities to welcome the world, and we are ready to go,” he said in a statement Thursday.
The host-city agreement outlines obligations such as sanitation, security, media, advertising, traffic management and the provision of a live zone.
The United Bid Committee, which is coordinating the North American bid, will submit the proposal to FIFA in March, and a decision will be announced in June.
City council will vote on the agreement Tuesday.