Prime Minister Mark Carney received the first ticket to the first Canadian match for World Cup next year.
Carney met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Ottawa Tuesday (Oct. 14) where Infantino presented Carney with the first ticket to the Toronto game on June 12, 2026. The men's World Cup kicks off in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
"It's the biggest sporting event ever, but it will be the biggest social event as well. And, of course, dear Prime Minister, I brought you a little souvenir," Infantino told Carney and he handed the prime minister an oversized match ticket.
The prime minister said Canada is so excited and honoured to be co-hosting World Cup with the United States and Mexico, pointing to a soccer ball from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as "a symbol of our friendship and unity ... through sport."
"If I may say, apart from his expert management of the world's greatest game, President Infantino has made it a priority in men's and women's football – soccer, as we say – to build friendship and unity through sports."
After the meeting, Infantino said he and Carney, along with the federal secretary of state for sport Adam van Koeverden, discussed the status of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
He said there is a lot to do from now until June, including the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30, 2026.
"The world will come to Vancouver. Delegates from 211 different countries – more than the (United Nations) – will unite, and this is a little bit of an appetizer, of course, to the World Cup."
Infantino said he agreed with Carney that he wants the whole country to feel this World Cup.
"The whole of Canada, the whole of the country has to participate ... has to feel being part of it, with fan zones everywhere, with celebrations everywhere, with schools being involved in programs."
The winner's trophy already came to Vancouver for a public viewing, drawing in hundreds to the Vancouver Italian Cultural Centre on Aug. 26.
For World Cup, Vancouver will play host to seven matches, with the first June 13, 2026. Vancouver will also host a round of 16 game in the knockout stage on July 7.
