Photo by ISIphotos.com
By KURTIS LARSON
FIFA World Cup final, July 16, 2038, Victoria, British Columbia, CA.
England vs. Ivory Coast (say what you will…).
Full of cameras flashing and spectators chanting, the newly constructed 89,000-seat Tim Horton's Arena sits jammed packed on the Pacific shoreline. Awaiting two flags, six referees (future goal-line refs included) and both teams to emerge from the tunnel, the world's most anticipated sports spectacle is about to get underway.
After each and every World Cup the conversation quickly turns to the likelihood of certain nations hosting the world's greatest sporting event. With the front-runners being England in 2018 and the United States in 2022, the conversation immediately switches to what countries are in line for the tournament in 2026 and beyond.
Over the past week, an assortment of Canadian news outlets posed the above question to the Canadian Soccer Association's general secretary, Peter Montopoli.
"We would have to wait our turn," Montopoli said. "There is a long way to go."
Montopoli went on to say that the state of California alone is better suited to host the tournament at the moment.
Fair enough.
But what are the prospects, the probability and the likelihood that Canada could host or co-host this event in the distant future?
The first obstacle would be infrastructure. FIFA mandates that a host nation meet stadium guidelines that include having 40,000-seat stadiums for all group matches and 80,000-seat stadiums for the opening and final matches.
At the moment, Canada has just four stadiums that seat above 40,000, with multiple stadiums falling just short of the mark.
Herein lies the first obvious problem — Canada has no reason, other than a potential World Cup bid, to build stadiums that hold more than 50,000 spectators.
Take South Africa for instance. After Sunday's World Cup final, the newly constructed World Cup stadiums will immediately turn into multi-purpose venues that will house not only soccer but rugby, cricket and more. Other than an occasional outdoor NHL game and the highly coveted (but greatly overshadowed by the NFL's Super Bowl) Grey Cup, the country will have no use for a large stadium following the World Cup should it host it.
The conversation switches to whether or not a co-hosting situation with the United States is viable.
The quick and easy answer to that is that the United States would never need help hosting the event because according to the CSA, "they could hold this tournament" in a single state.
Talk like that makes you wonder if the CSA would even consider approaching the U.S. Soccer Federation and posing the question.
Which brings us to the third area of concern.
Will the Canadian soccer team ever justify to FIFA taking a spot away from another, more worthy soccer nation?
Because the host country automatically qualifies for tournament, does Canada's No. 63 world ranking even justify them earning automatic qualification among the elite?
For many the answer is no. Although current hosts South Africa came into this summer's tournament ranked 83rd in the world, they competed evenly by registering a win over France and a 1-1 draw in the tournament's opening match with Mexico.
At this moment, I can't see Canada having similar success as a host nation against the world's best.
It's clear that recent conversations have exposed what some Canadian soccer commentators and critics don't want to hear. Canada will never be a logical or plausible location for a men's FIFA World Cup. The CSA, federal and local governments would never be able to justify constructing one-time, national sports venues of that magnitude.
Canada's only hope would be if the U.S. agreed to throw them a bone and send a game or two up to Montreal or B.C. Place in 2022.
Don't count on it.
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QUICK NOTE
Dutch (Canadian) winger Jonathan de Guzman's contract with Feyenoord is coming to an end. The Canadian-born winger is reportedly being linked to Newcastle of the Barclays Premier League. De Guzman, who has appeared at the youth level for the Netherlands, is eligible to play for Canada but continues to hold out for a spot on the Dutch senior national team.
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Do you think Canada will ever host a World Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
In a word, No. In three words, Not A Chance. It is hilarious though that the picture that is at the top of the article is of the south stand at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa. A stand that only weeks after the U20 World Cup was condemned. A stand that was demolished in July of 2008, a mere year after if was used for that U20 World Cup. So keep dreaming America’s Hat, but your welcome to enjoy the next World Cup in the US in either 2022 or 2014, when Brazil craps their pants.
How about ‘NO’ Kurtis.
UNSUBSCRIBE.
Why would MLS–a corporate entity–do anything BUT to make money, though? It’s not like congress is sending out cash to the USSF and that is being siphoned off north of the border.
The franchise fees paid by the expansion teams probably represents a fair percentage of the value gained by many MLS franchises. Professional soccer in the US is currently a pyramid scheme. If that money keeps coming in long enough to help more teams get SSS and in the black I’ll gladly sing “O, Canada.”
There is no reason for “us” to not do that. I would think irrational American pride is perhaps best shown in supporting the market: Atlanta, Miami, St. Louis etc. cannot support an MLS team (and that appears to mean $40m cash and plenty of capital backing beyond that), Motreal can. Bienvenue!
I don’t get how Canada never even makes it to the final round of qualifying. You’re telling me Honduras, T+T, El Salvador, and Costa Rica are better than Canada? Maybe CR, but I think Canada has better players than any of those other teams. I just don’t get it. They should be qualifying for every other World Cup or so by now; De-Ro, De Guzman, Will Johnson, Onstad- that’s not a bad core at all, when you consider they have a couple guys over in Europe. In fact, it kind of reminds me of the early 90’s U.S. teams; with a couple guys abroad and a bunch of guys under the radar. Except now, we have the MLS, and many Canadians play in it, and benefit from an actual league, whereas the early U.S. players had indoor leagues and USL.
Perhaps they’ll qualify for 2014. I certainly hope so; after living in Toronto for a couple years after college, I love the country and wish them the best in everything so long as they aren’t playing the U.S. in hockey or soccer. And Canadians evidently love soccer- Toronto and Montreal have proved that. So hopefully the great Impact and TFC fans will get to cheer on their National Team in Brazil, or if not, then in 2018, wherever it will be (hopefully here).
I’m definitely not pro-canada… I’m pro advancing the sport in the US and continuing to grow MLS. A good way to do that has so far been in Canada. Toronto has shown that they have one of the best fan bases in the league.
MLS didn’t walk away from Miami and some other places, potential owners walked away from MLS. Don’t kid yourself thinking that there are better situations for MLS and soccer in THIS country than what is going on now. The better the bottom-line for MLS (lots of fans like in Toronto) the more money the league makes. The more money the league makes, the more they can spend on players salaries and stadiums. The more money to spend on salaries the better players and the higher MLS rises in the ranks of the world’s domestic leagues. Canada is good for American soccer, period.
Hopefully the 3.5 spots are safe for now, since the US and Mexico both advanced. If anyone’s getting docked, it’s CAF after their great home-continent flame out.
It would be a PR disaster because the Nazis that Canada calls border cops would turn away about 75 percent of visiting fans from the country because of some minor infraction on their police record from 20 years ago or for finding a microtrace of cocaine on one of their dollar bills.
I’m pretty sure the number of spots allotted to each confederation is independent of who’s hosting (at least when it’s a single nation). For example, Africa (CAF) has had 5 spots in each of the three World Cups prior to this one, and received 5 plus the host nation spot for a total of 6 in 2010. Maybe for co-hosts they would take away one spot, but that would leave 2.5 spots, and the hopeful qualifiers wouldn’t have to contend with the US, so I doubt anyone from CONCACAF would complain. Actually, other CONCACAF nations would benefit if Canada was a reasonable contender for a spot anyway.
The real issue that no one has mentioned is that FIFA regulations don’t allow for World Cup co-hosting anymore. However, it wouldn’t be FIFA it didn’t break its own rules, so who knows.
Save it for your memoirs.
I don’t quite understand the point of the article. It answers the question in the title with a resounding NO. From the facts presented, it’s not even a close call. We might as well “debate” whether Venezuela coud host a World Cup. And no disrespect to Canada here.
I would like to see Canada host the 2011 gold cup
Canada can handle sporting events like the Olympics and U20 World Cups because they are a grade below the World Cup.
Only a handful of nations will ever be able to host World Cups on their own. A few nations can Co-host…otherwise, unless you are willing to build like Qatar or South Africa, you aren’t going to host.
Er, have you checked the weather reports lately.
It’s been hotter in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa this past week than it is in Jamaica.
Zach, please enlighten the rest of us as to which American teams were kept out of MLS due to TFC, Whitecaps and Impact joining.
Its not April 1st is it?
maybe because Canadian professional teams just happen to play in the same league as our beloved american teams? we are unavoidably linked to Canadian soccer and their development affects the state and quality of our domestic league. not to mention the language and culture of canada is much similar to predominate culture of the US. (and i am not a hater, I am actually an ex-pat living in south america)
Montopoli needs his organization to crawl before it can walk first; why not try and take a crack at hosting a Gold Cup.
Obviously we can handle hosting global sporting events (we’ve had the Olympics here 3 times). But we do need to prove that there is a regular market for major soccer events here; hosting the Gold Cup could be a small answer to that.
i am aware of that. but he asked for “something useful,” and if you look at the first comment in this discussion, it is obvious that i have nothing useful to say about Canadian soccer. does it hurt your feelings that badly that i threw Red Patch a bone in another area of Canadian lore? if so, sorry (and get a sense of humor).
why are you telling people to shut up? lol you sound like a 5 year old brat. He’s just stating it opinion.
While i think a joint Mexican-American host bid would be too big of a marketing partnership for FIFA too not seriously consider for either 2018 or ’22, Mexican and American soccer politics and their national organizations are just too self-introspected for them to seriously entertain the idea of it of a joint world cup.
While on the under hand, Canada’s a more certainly a more humble idea for the Sun Galati and company. Being that Canada’s domestic soccer league lay’s entirely in the hands of MLS (which certainly only works to the USA’s advantage, making the whole prospect pretty impossible for Canada to turn down an opportunity, if they were to ever be graced such a gift by the USSF.
The English getting to a WC final? Ha, Kurtis you are ONE. FUNNY. Guy.
Two reasons why I don’t think this would happen:
1-Other CONCACAF teams would not like the idea of 2 of their 3.5 World Cup spots going to hosts (USA & Canada). This might be different if Mexico was the other possible host but not Canada.
2-One of the main arguments the USA bid (or any bid for that matter) has for hosting the games is the amount of money it brings in to the country and the match cities. They would not want to give up even 2 games as that would cut down on the money made in the USA.
Seriosly, lay off the crack
Canada would need to grow the domestic soccer teams greatly to make this close to possible. If 20 years from now Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal can sellout 60,000 seat stadiums then it becomes more realistic. (I know this does not happen in the US but all our big stadiums are for American football, which does get those numbers.)
I guess another option is to try and get the NFL to merge with, or eat up, the CFL in hopes of the teams become more profitable thanks to US TV money and expanding on their stadiums, but I don’t think this is really anything that would ever happen.
I think Canada would be much better served by their federation if they focus on fixing their issues, improving their youth system and qualifying for a men’s World Cup instead of trying to host one.
Well, I certainly don’t see them hosting a past World Cup.
Hopefully the Canadian MLS teams will result in a better product for the national team. CONCACAF and the USNT could use the competition. Especially if FIFA thinks that they can take away the 3.5 spots in the future.
None of that is soccer related
Was a lame attempt at a joke..
If US gets one I don’t see why Toronto or Vancouver could get a game or two out a group stage or RD of 16.
Why should we cater to Canada and continue to grant them teams besides the fact that it’s easy money for MLS? Please tell me.
i think it would be great to have it there instead of usa. wouldn’t have to suffer 100 degree heat and 100% humidity. plus the hiking and camping would be awesome in between games.
Really. That’s all you’ve got. Get your own league. Could you dazzle us all with some more gems.
THIS! God, I’m glad somebody posted this before me. Get your own effing domestic league so we can get more American teams in America’s domestic league. *braces for pro-Canada retorts*
Can’t and won’t happen…ever.
The population of Canada is only about 35 million, there have to be more people in California. There have been countries to host with fewer people ( Sweden, Chile, and Uruguay ), but there wasn’t as much money at stake and they actually play soccer there.
Shut up. No one told you you had to read it. But, why not a Mexican corner, indeed? You volunteering to write it?
The Canadian and provincial governments continue to show an unprecedented willingness to subsidize sports. Heck the Feds just committed another $110M toward own the podium for the next winter olympics. That translates to about $5M per medal just for own the podium and that is if they can perform as well on foreign soil as home soil or snow or ice. So, my point is do not underestimate the ability of the politicians here to throw money at white-elephant stadium projects in order to land a world cup. Regarding the other issues above (ranking, competition from Mexico and the USA) there are still obstacles. However, the willingness to throw tax payer money at getting the event; not an obstacle.
How about a Gold Cup first and move on from there. Love going to the games, but i’m even a little sick of the same venues every 2 years.
you dont need infrastructure to host a world cup- you just need to bribe Seppy Blatts. And i think we are too naive or unwilling or both up here to get that together anytime soon.
CSA first needs to take the most basic and obvious step: get your own dang league.
something useful: when I was a little boy, i lived in far upstate New York and my dad took me to a Canadiens game at the old Montreal Forum. We had to stand up the whole game in a staning section. When the locals sang the Canadian National anthem in French, it was so powerful, and so moving, that i still get chills thinking about it today. it is one of my best memories of a life that has now stretched for 52 years.
also useful: Vancouver has the best Chinese food (and homegrown weed) in North America.
no
They did a good job of hosting the 2007 FIFA under 20 World Cup. Over a million spectators attended the matches. The Canadian team went 0-3 and didn’t score a single goal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_FIFA_U-20_World_Cup
This tournament has traditionally gone to countries without the capacity to host the grown up World Cup with some exceptions. I can’t see them moving beyond that any time soon.
I comment from selfish angles but the US team NEEDS a strong Canadian team… As well as strong teams from our entire region… Us and Mexico cannot justify a region to be taken seriously…
After the United States host in 2018 or 2022, the next World Cup to be held on the North American continent will be in Mexico. No doubt about it. Canada will have to stick to hosting FIFA youth tournaments, although, they might have a shot at the Women’s World Cup.
Sorry Canada, you just don’t have the infrastructure to host the Grand Daddy of them All.
Does anyone remember the CSA doing a World Cup feasibility study about 8-10 years ago? I know I remember seeing a PDF of it online (no idea where it could be found now).
As for getting games in a US-hosted Cup, would never happen, for a variety of reasons.
Why a Canadian Corner instead of a Mexican Corner? There’s a lot more Mexican Americans in the U.S. Canadian soccer is just a huge joke. I can’t take this weekly thing seriously
And the point of this article is what?
You’re just setting us up to knock us down. Do us a favour and don’t comment on Canada unless you have something useful to say!
you mean like Vancouver 2010?
i want to say that canada will always suck… but there was a time when it was unthinkable that the us would reach the quarterfinals
a lot can happen in 16 years
heck, a lot can happen in four years
Don’t really see the point when 75% of Canadian population live within 100 miles of the US border.
Would be a helluva host for the Winter Olympics though.
might be the only way they ever qualify. and haters, I LOVE CANADA.