Vancouver World Cup planning in ‘zone of unknowns' awaiting FIFA details
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The Province
an hour ago
- The Province
How Trump could complicate Canada's 2026 World Cup hosting plans
'No one wants to go to the World Cup to watch some soccer games and then end up in jail,' says professor of sports economy Published Jul 27, 2025 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 5 minute read U.S. President Donald Trump celebrates with members of Chelsea FC after they won the FIFA Club World Cup in July. U.S. immigration policy under Trump is raising concern about travel, safety and cross-border cooperation for the co-hosted 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo by David Ramos / Getty Images With less than a year to go until the 2026 World Cup, political tensions and U.S. policy threaten to pose problems as Canada, the United States and Mexico prepare to co-host the tournament. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Next year's FIFA World Cup will be the biggest ever, with the three countries hosting a record 48 teams. Between June 11 and July 19, they will play 104 matches, most of them in the U.S. With millions of fans expected to cross borders to attend the games, U.S. President Donald Trump's harsh immigration policies — which include travel bans on some countries, immigration raids and mass deportations — are generating anxiety. 'This is all being driven by the United States. And we're entirely the guilty party here,' said Victor Matheson, a professor at College of Holy Cross in Massachusetts who specializes in sports economics. 'You could have significant immigration problems with fans and players going across borders.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The U.S. has travel bans in place for 12 countries and restrictions in place for seven, and is considering banning travellers from another 36 countries. Though there are exemptions for athletes, staff and families, the unpredictability of Trump's administration means no one knows for certain what kind of rules might be in place by the time the tournament starts. No one wants to go to the World Cup to watch some soccer games and then end up in jail. Economist Andrew Zimbalist, who wrote a book on the economics of hosting the World Cup, said Trump has the ability to make it difficult for people to travel, but it's not clear whether he will actually do so. 'I think probably Trump himself might not have the answers because … he responds very impetuously to changes in his environment,' he said. Concerns about visas or political opposition to Trump might lead some soccer fans to decide not to attend at all, while others opt to attend the games in Canada instead, Zimbalist suggested. But he also pointed out that the quarter, semifinals and final are all taking place in the U.S. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A spokesperson for Canadian Heritage said Canada could see a million international visitors during the tournament. 'Given the tri-national nature of the event, it is anticipated that international and domestic travellers will move back and forth between Canada and the United States. The focus will continue to be on the flow of movement, the safety of travellers and the security of the borders,' the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency said the agency is working closely with federal government departments, host cities and FIFA 'in the safety and security planning for this international event.' How much do premium Toronto, Vancouver FIFA World Cup tickets cost right now? Here's what we know Matheson said fans — particularly those from countries that have found themselves in Trump's crosshairs — have good reasons to be worried. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I would be very concerned about planning a vacation that has you travelling from Mexico or from Canada into the United States and back. I don't think that you can guarantee that vacation of a lifetime is actually going to be there for you to actually take,' he said. He said it's one thing to be denied entry, another to end up in jail and deported — potentially to a prison in El Salvador. 'No one wants to go to the World Cup to watch some soccer games and then end up in jail,' he said. Trump's moves to impose tariffs on much of the world, including Canada, could also affect the World Cup. Matheson offered the example of someone who makes jerseys for a country's team who would want to ship those jerseys across the border with the team. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Tariffs make that type of inventory management pretty challenging,' he said. Tim Elcombe is a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University whose areas of expertise include sports, politics and international affairs. He said 'there was a sense that having the event in Canada, the United States and Mexico would almost be a bit of a calming of the political waters,' as the cup returned to Western countries. Instead, he said, the 2026 tournament may be even more politically charged than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Canada's Alphonso Davies scores on a header during a game against Croatia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Canada is co-hosting one of world's biggest sporting events with a country whose president has instigated a trade war and threatened annexation. Canadians have cut travel to the U.S. and stopped buying American products — and it's not clear what all of that might mean for the World Cup. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While Vancouver and Toronto will host some games, 'really this is an American-centric competition,' Elcombe said. 'So how will Canadians feel about this? Will we get behind it? Will it become the event I think they were hoping it would be?' In early July, labour and human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, wrote to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to say U.S. policies under Trump pose a 'serious threat' to individuals, especially non-citizens. The letter accused FIFA of ignoring 'the clear evidence of the significant deterioration of the rights climate in the United States.' Elcombe said while the United States is likely to take the brunt of scrutiny, Canada is not immune. 'Canada is going to have to be prepared for a very critical eye in terms of focus on some of the issues in Canada from a human rights perspective, because I think they will be exposed,' he said, citing Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples as one example. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. MacIntosh Ross, a fellow at the Scott McCain and Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health at Saint Mary's University, said Canada should put pressure on the U.S. government 'to make sure that things happen in a safe or as safe a manner as possible.' 'The Canadian organizers and the Canadian government need to be very clear about their expectations for their partners in this World Cup and reiterate them and state them over and over again,' he said. Elcombe noted Infantino, who has 'very much established himself as a friend and supporter of President Trump,' could be a key player in determining how the coming months unfold. U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the 2025 Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, N.J. Photo by Alex Grimm / Getty Images It's difficult to predict what Trump might do, Zimbalist said. If there are political issues in the United States that he wants to distract people from, 'you can see him doing crazier and crazier things internationally to get people's minds off of what's actually happening.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But Trump also has shown that he cares about the World Cup and looking good as he hosts the tournament. 'I think he does care about image and he does care about being on the world stage,' Zimbalist said. 'So I can see that being a significant deterrent, actually.' Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps News BC Lions Vancouver Whitecaps
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Prediction: This Unstoppable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Will Join Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet in the $2 Trillion Club by Year's End
Key Points The $2 trillion club is full of businesses benefitting from the growing demand for artificial intelligence. The company I'm eyeing is developing its own AI capabilities that serve multiple cases across its business with huge revenue opportunities. The stock trades for a fair value, and even slight outperformance could push it into $2 trillion territory. 10 stocks we like better than Meta Platforms › Nvidia recently became the first ever $4 trillion company in the world. Its rapid ascension in value stems from growing demand for artificial intelligence. But Nvidia isn't the only company that's seen its market value soar to multitrillion-dollar levels on the back of AI-fueled growth. The three biggest cloud computing providers -- Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet -- all boast market caps above $2 trillion. Meanwhile, Apple remains one of the most valuable companies in the world as it works to catch up on its AI capabilities. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » But the $2 trillion club may be about to get a little bigger. One company is showing strong financial results stemming from the rapid advancements of artificial intelligence over the last few years. In fact, I predict it will surpass the $2 trillion market cap milestone before the end of the year. Here's the AI giant that could join the $2 trillion club. One of the biggest beneficiaries of generative AI capabilities I predict that the next member of the $2 trillion club will be Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META). Not only does it already have a market cap of roughly $1.8 trillion as of this writing on July 24 -- which puts it about 11% from $2 trillion -- but the stock currently looks undervalued relative to the potential opportunities. AI could boost its revenue in the near term while opening up even bigger opportunities in the long run. During Meta's first-quarter earnings call on April 30, CEO Mark Zuckerberg laid out five major opportunities for the company with AI. Improved advertising: Meta has long used machine learning algorithms to help surface advertisements amid organic content to drive maximum engagement. That's led to steady improvements in ad pricing for the company. It's also rolled out generative AI tools that help marketers come up with creatives (ads). In the pipeline, Meta's developing an AI agent that can take a marketer's objective and budget and create and run the entire campaign for them. That has the potential to save marketers money and increase the total number of companies running ads on Meta's properties, further pushing ad prices higher. More engaging experiences: Zuckerberg details two benefits of AI: better recommendations and new types of content. Meta has expanded its AI model to include more data points across all different types of content to improve recommendations across every surface of its apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. As it grows the model bigger and bigger, it's getting better and better at engaging users. That's only possible because it now has the compute power to support its large language model development. Zuckerberg also expects generative AI tools to provide new ways for creators to produce better content for users. Everything from existing content like photos and videos can be manipulated with AI, and generative AI could enable creators to produce more interactive content as well. Business messaging: Meta's WhatsApp for Business is a relatively small source of income right now. But as Meta improves its AI agent capabilities, it reduces the cost for businesses to provide customer service and sales through WhatsApp and Messenger. That could lead to a surge in WhatsApp for Business users. One analyst thinks AI agents alone are a $100 billion opportunity for Meta. A stand-alone AI chatbot: Meta has integrated the Meta AI assistant into all of its main apps and released a stand-alone version of the app as well. As the user base grows, it could provide another source of valuable advertising inventory. Importantly, since Meta is developing its own large language model for the above applications already, the additional cost of building and running a stand-alone AI chatbot is far lower than for dedicated AI companies like OpenAI or Anthropic. Devices: Zuckerberg points out the growing popularity of Meta's AI glasses. Unit sales tripled in the first quarter. Longer term, generative AI may be essential for creating an augmented reality user interface that fits into the unique setting of each user. Indeed, AI has the potential to dramatically impact Meta's financials in a positive direction in the near term while supporting its long-term objectives in virtual and augmented reality. The stock looks like a bargain right now The above factors should be able to generate strong double-digit revenue growth for Meta for years to come. The company saw 16% revenue growth last quarter, while exhibiting nice operating leverage. As a result, operating income climbed 27% year over year. The big step up in capital expenditures could weigh on earnings growth for the next couple of years as depreciation expense climbs as a result. But as the company grows into those expenses, it should continue to show operating leverage. Meta's also using excess cash flow to repurchase shares. It bought back $13.4 billion worth of its stock in the first quarter, and it still has $70 billion in cash on the balance sheet. As a result, the company should be able to generate strong earnings-per-share growth. As of this writing, the stock trades for 28 times earnings. Considering the growth potential ahead for the stock, that's an enticing price for investors. To push the stock to $2 trillion, it would have to trade for closer to 31 times earnings, which isn't an unreasonable multiple for the stock. But if Meta ends up outperforming expectations, it could trade for the same multiple and still achieve a $2 trillion valuation. I expect a combination of multiple expansion and outperformance to drive the stock to $2 trillion before the end of the year. Should you invest $1,000 in Meta Platforms right now? Before you buy stock in Meta Platforms, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Meta Platforms wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025
National Post
5 hours ago
- National Post
Canada's homebuilding industry feeling strain of U.S. tariffs on costs, supply chain
Article content 'They're taking advantage of the availability of acquiring it and then having it available for the future, which then increases the overhead because you're holding on to that material, rather than acquiring it when you need it,' Shindruk said. Article content With early concerns about the effects of the trade war, Greater Toronto Area-based Altree Developments had forecast a three to five per cent hit to its overall budget, said the company's president and CEO, Zev Mandelbaum. Article content That figure has since decreased due to more Canadian material being available than first anticipated, said Mandelbaum. But he said the roller-coaster of tariff developments — from the latest threat of additional levies to hope that ongoing negotiations will soon lead to a new trade deal — has made it 'impossible' to plan ahead. Article content He added his company has seen a far greater impact on the revenue side of the business over the past six months, as economic uncertainty drove down buyer demand. Article content 'It was more the fear of just … economic instability in Canada that stopped house buying and stopped people from wanting to invest, whether it be locals looking for homes or foreigners looking to invest in the country,' he said. Article content Article content 'That alienation caused us to have less sales, and because of that, that put even more pressure on construction costs.' Article content In its housing forecast for the year, published in February, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. predicted a trade war between Canada and the U.S. — combined with other factors such as reduced immigration targets — would likely slow the economy and limit housing activity. Article content The national housing agency had also said Canada was set for a slowdown in housing starts over the next three years — despite remaining above the 10-year average — due to fewer condominiums being built, as investor interest lags and demand from young families wanes. Article content As of June, year-to-date housing starts totalled 114,411 across regions with a population of 10,000 or greater, up four per cent from the first half of 2024. Article content Article content Despite that boost in new construction, a regional analysis shows provinces with industries more exposed to tariffs are experiencing a slowdown, said CMHC chief economist Mathieu Laberge. He noted Ontario's housing starts have dropped around 26 per cent to date year-over-year, while B.C. has seen an eight per cent decline. Article content Article content In Ontario, five of the 10 most tariff-impacted cities also recorded an increase in mortgage arrears during the spring. Laberge said the trade war, or associated macroeconomic factors, likely prompted layoffs in those regions, which meant people couldn't pay their mortgage. Article content He said he expects that will eventually translate to a lower number of homes being built. 'This is a slow filter through, but it's a real one. We see it happening — although maybe not in the housing starts or resales yet,' Laberge said. Article content Lee said the industry is already noticing those effects. Article content 'The big problem now is we're just not getting the kind of starts we need and there's a lot of concern in the industry now,' Lee said. Article content Before tariffs, he said some regions, such as Atlantic Canada and the Prairies, had started to see housing starts rebound from a national lull that was fuelled by previously high interest rates. Other provinces, such as Ontario and B.C. — where houses remain the most expensive — hadn't yet reached similar levels of new construction.
