World Cup soccer wonB次元官网网址檛 be coming to B.C. in 2026, after a joint North American bid won the right to host the tournament.
The B.C. government dropped out of the bidding in March, citing unknown costs due to possible upgrades to B.C. Place stadium to meet the demands of FIFA, the World Cup governing body.
Tourism Minister Lisa Beare said Wednesday she is happy that the North America bid was successful, but the province made the right decision.
Premier John Horgan was in Grand Forks Wednesday to announce a new disaster relief fund for people forced from their homes.
B次元官网网址淚 do not regret for a minute the decision we made to withdraw any support for the bid, based on the lack of a final number from FIFA,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e still not prepared to write a blank cheque for a soccer tournament that would not guarantee a specific number of games, would not guarantee the duration of the closing of B.C. Place and would not give us a final dollar figure.
B次元官网网址淣ow knowing that we need to put resources into places like Grand Forks and looking at a fire season ahead of us, I think most taxpayers would be grateful for that decision,B次元官网网址� Horgan said.
RELATED:
The announcement of North AmericaB次元官网网址檚 winning bid came Wednesday from Moscow, where Russia is hosting the 2018 World Cup tournament.
B次元官网网址淚t was goose bumps, it was tears, cheering, it was unbelievable,B次元官网网址� said Karina LeBlanc, two-time Olympic medal winning goaltender for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer team.
Breaking news for those just waking up.
B次元官网网址� Karina LeBlanc (@karinaleblanc)
CANADA/USA/MEXICO WILL HOST 2026 WORLD CUP.
Let me just say the energy in the room went tense to jubilation!
LeBlanc, who grew up in Maple Ridge B.C. and now plays professionally, was in Moscow for the decision. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a game changer for our three countries, especially for Canada,B次元官网网址� she said.
B.C. was dropped from the Canadian bid after the province refused to sign off on undefined upgrades that may have included putting natural grass turf in B.C. Place stadium.
B.C. Liberal tourism critic Jas Johal said the decision to drop out is a setback for tourism in B.C., the only province that couldnB次元官网网址檛 make a deal for the three-country bid. B.C. residents will have to B次元官网网址渞eserve a spot on the sofa instead of the stadium,B次元官网网址� Johal said.
That leaves Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto in the running to host the 10 games that will be awarded to Canada. There is no guarantee all the cities will host games as plans for the World Cup tournament continue to unfold under FIFA control.
