Are you Canadian, a fan of soccer, and you want to attend Canada matches at the 2026 World Cup next summer? Many questions remain unanswered about this, at present. But some answers are within our reach.
To try to see more clearly, we discussed with Kevin Blue, secretary general of Canada Soccer. The Federation recently launched an updated version of its Canadarouge philanthropic program. This one gives access, among other things, to an “ticket award lottery” in Canada for the next year World Cup.
Photo Carl de Souza, Agence France-Presse Archives
The 2026 World Cup opening match will be presented at Stade Azteca, Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
Dates and a lottery
Let’s start with the base: Canada will play three group phase games. The first will take place in Toronto on June 12, 2026. The next in Vancouver, June 18. The Reds will remain in British Columbia for their third confrontation on June 24.
In total, 13 World Cup games will take place in Canada, 7 in Vancouver and 6 in Toronto. The match in Canadian lands with the biggest issue – in the round of 16 – will be played at BC Place on July 7.
Photo Darryl Dyck, Canadian Press Archives
Several hundred million dollars have been invested to renovate Vancouver’s installations for international matches.
We will only know Canada’s opponents during the drawing of the groups. This should take place on December 5 at the Las Vegas Sphere, according to Sports Illustrated.
So much for the facts. But what about tickets for matches?
FIFA proceeds by lottery. The first phase will take place from September 10 to 19. If you are selected during this lottery, you will receive an email inviting you to make your purchase on a specific date in October. At that time, as previously mentioned, the drawing of the groups has not yet taken place. Your choice of matches will therefore be roughly blind.
There will be other phases, but the details have not yet been announced by FIFA. This also indicates to us, by email, that the procedures for purchasing tickets for the World Cup should be similar to those which took place for the 2022 tournament, in Qatar.
Consult the FIFA website (in English)
A demand greater than the supply, a unprecedented situation
We were talking about choosing the blind games … This is not entirely true for Canada, since we already know where and when the duels of Unifolié will take place next summer.
And in addition to the FIFA system, another avenue is available to Canadian fans to attend: the Canada Soccer Canada Program.
The program, in itself, aims to allow supporters and the Canadian football community to contribute to the philanthropic financing of Canada Soccer, through subscriptions to its various levels. Recall that the Federation is a non -profit organization, which means that the money accumulated in this way must be reinvested in all levels of soccer in the country. We will come back below.
In return, Canada Soccer offers program subscribers special access to the ticket allocation of tickets.
Photo Chris Young, Canadian Press Archives
The Secretary General of Canada Soccer, Kevin Blue
FIFA controls 100 % of tickets. But it grants us an allowance of 8 % of these as a participating country.
Kevin Blue, secretary general of Canada Soccer
It is this percentage that is used in Canada. The program is accessible to supporters, but is also aimed at former players, members of the renowned temple of Canada Soccer, supporters such as travelers and other donors, says Blue. The lottery registration process via Canada should set in motion after that of FIFA, Croit Canada Soccer, which says it is “awaiting more details” on this subject.
“But it’s not the only way for Canadians to get tickets,” he says. We expect that there are much more than 8 % of Canadian supporters in our stadiums. »»
The FIFA system, which controls the remaining 92 % tickets, will remain the widest avenue for access to tickets, therefore.
“At the very least, there is more request for a small number of tickets than there is an offer in the allowance granted to Canada Soccer,” adds Blue. This request is a good thing, and the shortage of tickets is probably a new concept for soccer in Canada. I don’t think there has already been a similar situation. »»
Gluttony?
You can subscribe to Canadarouge for free, or register for its various levels for costs from $ 50 to $ 5,000, with substantial advantages depending on the amount paid.
Some on social networks have already denounced a delicacy from Canada Soccer. But Kevin Blue denies it.
“I understand their point of view, even if I do not adhere to it,” says the one who has made philanthropy one of the anchoring points for the funding of the Federation since his arrival in post, last year.
Canada Soccer announced last Thursday that 17,000 contributors have registered for this program.
“What we do with the best practices that we see in other non -profit federations and sports organizations in North America. »»
And since government funding “will not increase”, which “will not reflect the growth of sport” in the country, he says, he must “find new ways of diversifying sources of income”.
“Our goal is not to make money,” explains Kevin Blue. […] The goal is to increase income to reinvest them in the national juvenile teams, in the education of coaches, and everything necessary to maintain the growth of sport and national teams. »»