The Government of Quebec has withdrawn its financial backing of Montreal’s bid to stage the 2026 FIFA World Cup, damaging the Canadian city’s hopes of...
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Montreal may have to bow out as a host city to 2026 World Cup. Not sure if the cost escalation is a result of work they might have had planned for Olympic Stadium or what. Wonder what that might mean for Edmonton?
Edmonton is well positioned to receive the matches, in general, because from the public real side, our only major cost exclusively associated with the event would be converting the synthetic grass of the Commonwealth to natural turf. The stadium itself, as well as the transit access, parking operations, etc, are all already at FIFA's standards, save for any minor intervention that might be needed.
All of the other major infrastructure projects that we currently have going on (and would generally be associated with the event in other places, as happened in the last 4 World Cups in Germany, South Africa, Brazil and Russia) are already funded an underway and can actually be accelerated as part of the economic recovery plans for Edmonton and Alberta, in particular, the VL West, NAIT and Blatchford stops in the Metro Line, Yellowhead Trail Freeway conversion and Anthony Henday extra lanes in the S a SW sections.
That leaves us with the need for the hospitality industry to invest in high end 5* and 4* hotels, as well as maybe some 3* hotels, mostly, as well as cosmetic and small improvements in our central streets and parks.
As for the matches that would be hosted in Montreal, I see two paths: either FIFA will keep these in Canada (which is possible, as they have agreements with the countries to ensure a minimum number o matches in each one, as seen in 2002 Korea/Japan joint event) or they'll pick up the runner up in the US and move these 3 matches there.
The most likely scenario will be picking up another city, for a bunch of reasons, but primarily, because each of the 16 host cities is supposed to host only 3 matches in the Groups Phase. To balance this out with the contract of having 10 matches in Canada (which is what I believe they're at right now), possibly Edmonton and Toronto would host a Round of 16 game and Toronto a Round of 8 and one of the Semifinals (along with Mexico City, giving the US the final and 3rd Place dispute, possibly LA and NY).
That is assuming no other Canadian city would be interested in taking Montreal's place, if they drop out. Vancouver COULD still get into that, not sure how BC's post-Covid strategy is, though.