"The world doesn't stop for a World Cup and neither does the football." CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani said it plainly, and he's right — whatever is happening geopolitically, the 48-team machine scheduled to run June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico and the United States is not slowing down for anyone.
It helps when your cash cow generates US$13-billion in a single budget cycle. FIFA's revised 2023-26 forecast — up 72 per cent over the previous cycle — is largely built on the back of this expanded World Cup, the 2023 Women's World Cup, and a revamped Club World Cup. The 2027-2030 cycle is already projected at US$14-billion. At that scale, geopolitical turbulence barely registers as a line item.
Stadiums are on schedule, grass is coming
On the ground, preparations are moving. Montagliani confirmed the tournament is "on track for everything" heading into the final stretch, with the conversion of artificial surfaces to natural grass the next major milestone. BC Place gets its turf installed immediately after the Vancouver Whitecaps' April 25 home match against Colorado Rapids. The stadium is handed over to FIFA between May 13 and 15, with BMO Field following on May 13.
Toronto FC's May 9 clash against Inter Miami — yes, that means Lionel Messi — doubles as a test event for BMO Field's temporary seating expansion. Hard to imagine a better stress test.
Whether BC Place keeps the natural grass after the tournament is less certain. The facility is run by a provincial crown corporation with multi-use obligations, and Montagliani, despite personally preferring permanent grass, admitted the decision hasn't been made. "If I was a betting man, probably not" was his read. That's the honest answer, even if it's not the romantic one.
The details that actually matter for competing nations
Away from the stadium logistics, FIFA is quietly working through a tax equity issue that doesn't get enough attention. Teams playing in Canada face different tax treaty arrangements depending on their country of origin. Nations without existing reciprocal agreements with Canada or the US are being helped to apply for equivalent treatment — a necessary fix given that prize money ranges from US$9-million for group-stage exits to US$50-million for the winner. That's a gap worth fighting over, and a few European federations have already flagged cost concerns to UEFA.
On the fan side, Canada is rolling out "Canada Celebrates the FIFA World Cup 2026" — a free travelling fan fest hitting 38 stops across 34 communities, starting with pre-tournament events on June 1 and June 5. It was piloted last week in Victoria. Montagliani called it a first for the World Cup format and suggested FIFA intends to replicate the model at future tournaments.
- Tournament dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026
- Format: 48 teams across Canada, Mexico and the United States
- FIFA projected revenue (2023-26): US$13-billion
- Prize money range: US$9-million (group stage exit) to US$50-million (winner)
- BC Place grass installation: begins after April 25 Whitecaps match
- BMO Field FIFA handover: May 13; BC Place: May 13-15
- Fan fest: 38 stops, 34 communities across Canada
"The World Cup permeates every hamlet of every country," Montagliani said of the travelling fan fest. Whether or not the grass stays in Vancouver, the tournament infrastructure is in place and the timeline is holding. June 11 is coming fast.
