FIFA President Gianni Infantino | Toronto Sun
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Toronto has been chosen as one of many host cities for the World Cup 2026, which is being shared by Canada, Mexico and the USA.
“It was very powerful,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated of the alternatives. “All cities have accomplished an excellent job — with ardour. However you need to take selections.”
The choice was unveiled by soccer’s governing physique at a slick announcement in New York on Thursday afternoon.
It got here on the finish of a months-long competitors to host an expanded event that includes 48 groups.
Sixteen cities throughout North America had been chosen out of twenty-two vying for the honour.
Toronto and Vancouver had been profitable with their bids.
Edmonton fell quick.
“The most important present on earth will come to this a part of the world,” Infantino stated. “It is going to create one thing unbelievable for this a part of the world.”
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The information comes as Canada prepares for its return to the World Cup in November in Qatar.
“It’s superb that the World Cup is lastly coming to Canada,” stated Group Canada mid-fielder Jonathan Osorio, who was in Manhattan for the announcement. “It’s one thing that I feel as youngsters was onerous to even dream of.”
Internet hosting the video games was closely promoted by Mayor John Tory.
However staging a number of the ten video games anticipated in Canada would require an growth of BMO Subject from 30,000 seats to the FIFA minimal of 40,000 seats.
A report by metropolis workers estimated the price of internet hosting the video games at $290 million.
It’s asking the federal authorities and Queen’s Park to cowl two-thirds of the associated fee.
In March, a report by town government committee stated “projected advantages of internet hosting 5 matches in Toronto embody an estimated $307 million {dollars} of GDP impression, 3,300 jobs and 174,000 in a single day guests.”
When voted on by Metropolis Council in April, Councillor Gord Perks was the lone voice of opposition to accepting a nomination to host video games.
“If I had these tens of tens of millions of {dollars}, I might use it to expropriate properties to construct reasonably priced housing,” Perks advised Council in April.
“If you’re telling the 6,000 to 10,000 folks within the metropolis of Toronto who don’t have properties that we are able to’t remedy your drawback proper now, you’re not able to take the identical cash and put it into one thing like FIFA”
slaurie@postmedia.com
Twitter: @_ScottLaurie
