World Cup

International soccer players, from left, Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, Jonathan Osorio and Christian Pulisic wait along 6th Ave. for FIFA's announcement of the names of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

FIFA chief predicts soccer becoming U.S. number-one sport by 2026

NFL averaged 17.1 million viewers during 2021 season, while the 2018 World Cup averaged 5.04 million

International soccer players, from left, Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, Jonathan Osorio and Christian Pulisic wait along 6th Ave. for FIFA's announcement of the names of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Cheers broke out at B.C. Place on Thursday (June 16, 2022) as Vancouver was selected as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city as part of a North American joint bid. (Cole Schisler/Black Press Media)

Vancouver chosen to host FIFA World Cup in 2026 as part of North American bid

Vancouver will get five pre-games, but FIFA has yet to confirm the total number of games

Cheers broke out at B.C. Place on Thursday (June 16, 2022) as Vancouver was selected as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city as part of a North American joint bid. (Cole Schisler/Black Press Media)
Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Davies scores 2, Canada tops Curaçao 4-0 in CONCACAF Nations League play

Steven Vitoria and Lucas Cavallini each added a goal for winners

Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A Canada soccer logo is seen on Alphonso Davies in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, March 24, 2019. A planned training session for Canada’s men’s soccer team was scrapped Friday amid ongoing discussions about player compensation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada men back at practice after meeting with soccer federation

Canada set to play Thursday a week after refusing to play scheduled match due to a labour dispute

A Canada soccer logo is seen on Alphonso Davies in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, March 24, 2019. A planned training session for Canada’s men’s soccer team was scrapped Friday amid ongoing discussions about player compensation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Bayern's Alphonso Davies, front, duels for the ball with Stuttgart's Omar Marmoush during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, Germany, Sunday, May 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst )

Panama replaces Iran as Canada opponent in World Cup warmup

61st-ranked country will be opponent now for Sunday match in Vancouver

Bayern's Alphonso Davies, front, duels for the ball with Stuttgart's Omar Marmoush during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, Germany, Sunday, May 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst )
Photos of some of the victims stand among candles as members of Toronto’s Iranian community attend a vigil in Toronto on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, to mourn victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 that crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. Canada Soccer has cancelled a planned friendly with Iran in the face of growing criticism. At issue is whether Canada should be hosting Iran given the Canadians who died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 when it was shot down on Jan. 8, 2020, minutes after taking off from Tehran, by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Canada Soccer calls off planned friendly match with Iran in face of rising criticism

Soccer Canada gave no reason as it faced criticism tied to Iran’s shooting down of Flight 752 in 2020

Photos of some of the victims stand among candles as members of Toronto’s Iranian community attend a vigil in Toronto on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, to mourn victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 that crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. Canada Soccer has cancelled a planned friendly with Iran in the face of growing criticism. At issue is whether Canada should be hosting Iran given the Canadians who died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 when it was shot down on Jan. 8, 2020, minutes after taking off from Tehran, by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Former Brazilian player Kaká, left, and former Spanish player Iker Casillas present the Qatar FIFA World Cup trophy during the Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off today with a first-stop event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, May 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

FIFA plans to announce 2026 World Cup sites on June 16

Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto all in the running to host games

Former Brazilian player Kaká, left, and former Spanish player Iker Casillas present the Qatar FIFA World Cup trophy during the Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off today with a first-stop event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, May 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Canada head coach John Herdman celebrates the team’s win following second half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action against Jamaica, in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will host Iran in a men’s soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadian men to host Iran in June soccer friendly at B.C. Place Stadium

Canada, ranked 38th in the world, and No. 21 Iran are both preparing for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar

Canada head coach John Herdman celebrates the team’s win following second half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action against Jamaica, in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will host Iran in a men’s soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Members of Canada’s national soccer team celebrate after clinching a berth in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier soccer action against Jamaica in Toronto on Sunday March 27, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadian men to face Belgium, Croatia and Morocco in opening round at World Cup

Canadian men are ranked 38th in the world, below the 3 other teams in their group

Members of Canada’s national soccer team celebrate after clinching a berth in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier soccer action against Jamaica in Toronto on Sunday March 27, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Panama’s Eric Davis, left, and Canada’s Tajon Buchanan battle for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Panama City, Panama, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
Panama’s Eric Davis, left, and Canada’s Tajon Buchanan battle for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Panama City, Panama, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
Flags of some of the qualified countries of the World Cup wave at the seafront in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The draw for the World Cup will be held in Doha on April 1.(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

FIFA, Qatar prepare for unprecedented World Cup finals draw

Global health crisis and war in Ukraine combine to make this draw like no other

Flags of some of the qualified countries of the World Cup wave at the seafront in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The draw for the World Cup will be held in Doha on April 1.(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Canada’s Cyle Larin (17) celebrates his goal with Richie Laryea against Jamaica during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Canada’s Cyle Larin (17) celebrates his goal with Richie Laryea against Jamaica during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Canada’s goalkeeper Milan Borjan, centre, eyes the ball after Costa Rica’s Celso Borges scored a goal during a World Cup qualifying soccer match in San Jose, Costa Rica, Thursday, March 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
Canada’s goalkeeper Milan Borjan, centre, eyes the ball after Costa Rica’s Celso Borges scored a goal during a World Cup qualifying soccer match in San Jose, Costa Rica, Thursday, March 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
Canadian national soccer team players Paul James (left) and Randy Samuel celebrate the team's 2-1 win over Honduras in St. John's, Nfld. in this 1985 file photo. The win helped propel the Canadians to the World Cup finals in 1986. San Jose, Costa Rica, is a long way from St. John's, N.L., but the two could be intertwined Thursday if the Canadian men beat the Costa Ricans to secure World Cup qualification. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Creagan

Canadian men look to return to World Cup, 37 years after historic win in St. John’s

Remembering soccer team’s historic win in 1985 over Honduras

Canadian national soccer team players Paul James (left) and Randy Samuel celebrate the team's 2-1 win over Honduras in St. John's, Nfld. in this 1985 file photo. The win helped propel the Canadians to the World Cup finals in 1986. San Jose, Costa Rica, is a long way from St. John's, N.L., but the two could be intertwined Thursday if the Canadian men beat the Costa Ricans to secure World Cup qualification. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Creagan
BC Place Stadium in a photo posted to cisc-icca.ca.

B.C. vying for multiple international sports events to boost tourism

The province has expressed interest in hosting the FIFA World Cup, Invictus Games and Winter Olympics

BC Place Stadium in a photo posted to cisc-icca.ca.
Canada’s David Junior Hoilett, left, fights for the ball with El Salvador’s Narciso Orellana during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Canada’s David Junior Hoilett, left, fights for the ball with El Salvador’s Narciso Orellana during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
United States’ Chris Richards (15) and Canada’s Mark Anthony Kaye (14) vie for the ball during first half World Cup qualifying soccer action in Hamilton, Ont., Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canada downs U.S. 2-0 to continue winning ways in men’s World Cup soccer qualifying run

Cyle Larin tallies a record 23rd goal for Canada in his 46th appearance

United States’ Chris Richards (15) and Canada’s Mark Anthony Kaye (14) vie for the ball during first half World Cup qualifying soccer action in Hamilton, Ont., Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Honduras’ Wisdom Quaye, left, and Canada’s Cyle Larinfight for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Delmer Martinez)
Honduras’ Wisdom Quaye, left, and Canada’s Cyle Larinfight for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Delmer Martinez)
Canada’s Steven Vitória (5) and Mexico’s Orbelin Pineda Alvarado (10) via for the ball during World Cup Qualifiers in Edmonton, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Canada’s Steven Vitória (5) and Mexico’s Orbelin Pineda Alvarado (10) via for the ball during World Cup Qualifiers in Edmonton, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Team Canada’s Alphonso Davies (19) and Costa Rica’s Ricardo Jose Blanco Mora (2) vie for the ball during first half World Cup qualifier soccer action in Edmonton on Friday, November 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

David scores in 57th minute to lift Canada past Costa Rica 1-0 in World Cup qualifier

Game played before 48,806 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton

Team Canada’s Alphonso Davies (19) and Costa Rica’s Ricardo Jose Blanco Mora (2) vie for the ball during first half World Cup qualifier soccer action in Edmonton on Friday, November 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson