Bob Mackin
More than two years after being named a FIFA World Cup 26 co-host, more of B.C. Place Stadium’s contract with FIFA has been provided to theBreaker.news.
Previously censored clauses in the agreement show that FIFA requires a minimum 5% or 2,250 seats, whichever is higher, for each match at 54,500-seat B.C. Place. There is an exception for matches featuring the host country. Canada will play two group matches in June 2026 at B.C. Place, so the amount of tickets not for sale to the public will be greater: 8%, or a minimum 3,000 tickets, whichever is higher, will be set aside for FIFA.
Inside B.C. Place Stadium (Mackin)
The seats not available for public sale are in the media tribune and areas for very important persons and very-very important persons.
Further information is contained in the FWC Hosting Requirements manual, which bases estimates on a ticketed capacity of 50,000. It says a minority of tickets in each stadium will be available to the public.
“The overarching assumption is for total ticket allocation for the general public and organized team supporters’ amounts up to a maximum of 40% of the total capacity (40% of 50,000 = 20,000) as follows: 20% of stadium tickets to two playing participating member associations and additional 20% of tickets to public market,” says the manual.”
At a June 10, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade banquet, Jessie Adcock, the executive lead of the civic organizing committee, warned that few tickets would be available locally when they go on sale this fall under a lottery system, “that is why we are focusing on the Fan Festival [at the PNE grounds].”
Vancouver city hall politicians and senior bureaucrats have an inside track to tickets.
The FIFA World Cup 2026: Host Committees Rights and Assets pamphlet said 1.5% of tickets per hosted match are available to host committees prior to public sale. “These tickets can be used to assist fundraising efforts and included as part of a host city supporter package,” the pamphlet says.
FIFA also provides host cities with 175 to 250 complimentary VIP tickets at each match in the city. Host cities are also eligible for a small amount of tickets at matches they don’t host, such as four to the tournament opener, four to each semifinal and four to the final. Those tickets are not available for public purchase and cannot be resold.
theBreaker.news awaits the results of an adjudication through the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for more of the stadium contract with B.C. Pavilion Corp.
The NDP government revealed last month that 2026 hosting costs could reach $624 million, not including the anticipated federal safety and security funding. The 2022 estimate was as low as $240 million.
Meanwhile, Vancouver city council is expected to rubber-stamp spending another $3.67 million with Deloitte, a FIFA partner.
The July 9 agenda for the standing committee on policy and strategic priorities includes a recommendation to increase the contract to $7.6 million for additional ServiceNow services.
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