Bob Mackin
This is FIFA’s version of Super Tuesday.
The last teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup are being decided March 31 and there are implications for Canadians.
In Guadalajara, Mexico: Congo and Jamaica battle for a spot in Group K, with Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan.
FIFA’s Vancouver and Toronto World Cup 26 logos (FIFA)
In Monterrey, Mexico: Iraq meets Bolivia for a spot in Group I, with France, Norway and Senegal.
The final four European berths are up for grabs: Bosnia and Hercegovina hosts Italy, Czech Republic hosts Denmark, Kosovo meets Turkey and Sweden meets Poland.
The winner of Bosnia and Herzegovina versus Italy will be Canada’s first opponent, June 12 in Toronto.
The winner of Kosovo versus Turkey will play Australia in Vancouver on June 13.
Political football
On the same day, FIFA’s Canada Celebrates tour soft launches on the lawn outside the Parliament Buildings in Victoria. At halftime of the Bosnia and Hercegovina versus Italy match, around 12:30 p.m., Lt. Gov. Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, Speaker Raj Chouhanand Premier David Eby are scheduled to take the stage.
The free public event, featuring mascots and other hoopla, ends with viewing of Canada’s Toronto friendly against Tunisia.
Dates and locations of the entire 40-city, mobile watch party tour are to be announced.
A day later, on April 1, the last-minute ticket sales window for the U.S., Canada and Mexico tournament opens — with more than 102,000 minutes to go until the tournament kicks off June 11. Football Supporters Europe and Euroconsumers filed a joint complaint on March 24 to the European Commission against ticketing policies and pricing, the highest-ever for a World Cup.
The Canadian leg of the Coca-Cola-sponsored FIFA Trophy Tour begins April 10-11 in Vancouver The U.S. leg got rolling March 24 in Los Angeles. It resumes April 1 in Salt Lake City.
Meanwhile, the FIFA Congress is coming to the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 30. Representatives of the 211 member nations are scheduled to convene at the annual general meeting.
The FIFA Museum is staging a soccer and technology exhibit at Science World, from May 15-Sept. 7.
Takin’ care of business
FIFA’s chief business officer Romy Gai said March 26 at the Business of Soccer conference in Atlanta that it sold out of global sponsorship slots — top tier and World Cup 26 — with only two regional sponsorship packages remaining.
Speaking of sponsorship, FIFA gave each of the 16 host cities the opportunity to sell up to 10 packages locally. But there is a catch: none of the local sponsors can be competitors of existing FIFA global sponsors.
Toronto has three: Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment’s Toronto FC, Ontario Power Generation and Humber Polytechnic.
New York-New Jersey has six: real estate investor Onyx, law firm Paul, Weiss, energy utility PSEG, Hackensack Meridian Health, drug maker Bristol Myers Squibb and Sports Illustrated.
Working overtime
Screengrabs from the Toronto and Vancouver FIFA World Cup 26 websites.
Vancouver has not announced any of its host city supporters. Its website shows government logos and a First Nations land acknowledgement where the host city supporters should be. Time is running out.
The program is why Vancouver bought more than $13 million of World Cup tickets, suites and lounges from FIFA supplier On Location.
A card distributed at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s one-year countdown event last June advertised regional sponsorship, suites and hospitality packages beginning at $195,000 under the host city supporters and host city champions programs.
When theBreaker.news asked Vancouver’s FIFA 26 host committee on March 6, communications lead Natasha Qereshniku responded with committee statements.
One said that Vancouver “remains on track, with active progress across the supporter program and ticketing and hospitality initiatives.
“We will share the names of the supporters once agreements are finalized and are planning to provide a financial update in the spring.”
Pressed further, Qereshniku sent another statement that said: “More details on the host city sponsorship program will be released later this month, and we’ll be able to address these questions at that time.”
March ends on FIFA’s Super Tuesday.
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