B.C. has been dropped from the Canada-U.S.-Mexico bid for the 2026 World Cup of soccer, after refusing to sign on to unknown costs.

Tourism Minister Lisa Beare confirmed Wednesday that B.C.B次元官网网址檚 application to include Vancouver in the bid was rejected, because the costs to the province could have been increased at any time. In particular there were B次元官网网址渧ery serious concernsB次元官网网址� about the agreement to use B.C. Place stadium to host games, including unknown security and renovation costs.

The bid committee wanted to give FIFA [the World Cup governing body] the ability to B次元官网网址渦nilaterally change the stadium agreement at any point,B次元官网网址� Beare said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking at possible stadium upgrade costs, the turf field that has to be in place. None of these concerns were addressed by the bid committee.B次元官网网址�

North America is competing with Morocco to host the 2026 tournament, one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

B.C. Liberal MLA Jas Johal said itB次元官网网址檚 a setback for tourism that B.C. is the only province that couldnB次元官网网址檛 make a deal for the three-country bid.

B次元官网网址淭he former government worked hard with the City of Vancouver, sports organizations and the tourism sector to realize this opportunity,B次元官网网址� Johal said. B次元官网网址淏ritish Columbians, who will now have to reserve a spot on the sofa instead of the stadium, deserve to know why the B.C. NDP bailed on a chance to market British Columbia to the world.B次元官网网址�