If Edmonton succeeds in staging fixtures during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the legacy impact on football in the city, region and Western Canada is set to be highly significant.
The city’s love for the beautiful game runs deep. Local professional men’s club FC Edmonton competes in the Canadian Premier League, while Edmonton’s own Alphonso Davies stars on the global stage for Bayern Munich in Germany.
Having hosted the 2002 Fifa U19 Women’s World Championship, the 2007 Fifa U-20 World Cup, 2014 Fifa U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup Now, the city feels better prepared than ever to take the next step in using football as a catalyst for long-lasting progress, on and off the field.
“For the last 20 years we have been building momentum as a great host city”, says Maggie Davison, interim chief executive at Explore Edmonton. “With each Fifa event, we saw greater success, we set higher attendance records, brought greater economic impact to our region and fostered the pride of fans across Alberta. Now we have the opportunity to take that energy and host the largest sporting event in the world.”
With Edmonton being one of Canada’s youngest and fastest growing cities, the prospect of hosting matches of the Fifa World Cup 2026 presents unique opportunities in a variety of areas.
Long-term planning
Long-term planning is always at the heart of decisions made relating to whether to bid for and host a major event in Edmonton. The World Cup is no different.
Away from football, the tournament will be leveraged to inspire greater sustainability and cultural understanding.
For example, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission outlines in action number 91 that states where major sports events take place in Canada must ensure that the territorial protocols are respected and the indigenous communities are engaged in the planning process.
In addition, as part of the event, ISO 20121 provides a recognised framework for identifying the potentially negative social, economic and environmental impacts, so those delivering the tournament can focus on providing amazing football-related memories for many years to come.
In a sporting sense, the growth of football in Edmonton and Alberta is ready to accelerate.
“It is about planning and fulfilling a legacy that lasts well into the future, which is why we have built into our budget a $5m legacy fund on top of what Canada Soccer and Fifa will contribute. We will work with all stakeholders to plan the most meaningful impact for children and youth in our province,” said Janelle Janis, director of Edmonton Events.
“We want to support initiatives like Free Play that put our most vulnerable kids on a team and gives them a sense of belonging. We have started engaging with Indigenous groups, social agencies like End Poverty Edmonton, and other priority populations to determine how we can work together so this event benefits more than just soccer players.”
Inspirational
Being named as an official host city for the 2026 Fifa World Cup would allow Edmonton to inspire citizens locally and around the world by sharing stories such as that of Edmonton’s own football star, Alphonso Davies.
In partnership with FIFA and Canada Soccer, Edmonton is leveraging the tournament to grow the game exponentially and ensure that even more remarkable soccer stories begin in Edmonton and across the country.
Edmonton has also vowed that community facilities will be enhanced through capital investments at the training sites. Meanwhile, as North America’s first Human Rights City, Edmonton continues to embrace initiatives to protect and advance the rights of Indigenous people, new Canadians, LGBTQ communities, and other groups. This will be incorporated into the Fifa World cup hosting plan.
As one of the most inclusive sports, Edmonton’s bid leaders believe there is room for everyone to be part of the beautiful game, but they need to have access to it. This is why Edmonton is exploring options to invest in a local legacy fund to target and inspire priority populations in our city, especially marginalised children and youth, to access and participate in the sport.
The right timing
As part of Edmonton Events’ Major Sport and Cultural Attraction Plan that was approved by City Council in 2018, Edmonton will look to host a mega event once every 20 to 30 years.
In terms of infrastructure plans, many of the stadium upgrades were planned before the World Cup became a bidding opportunity. Therefore, timely stadium investments will ensure facilities remain relevant for years to come.
Edmonton’s bid leaders believe that being named an official host city for the World Cup will allow all three crucial boxes to be ticked on the checklist, covering the areas of economy, reputation and social that typically influence the events the city is considering.
A healthy return on investment is projected, although the impact on football will stretch long into the future. The branding opportunity is priceless, and the community benefits are meaningful and far-reaching.
It is the potential impact of the tournament on football in Edmonton and the wider region that offers the greatest hope to many.
Edmonton hosting games during the biggest football tournament on Earth in just under five years’ time would represent a long-term triumph for the sport across the region and country. Edmonton has an existing appetite for football and the experience required to deliver an outstanding fan experience.