Vancouver readies to welcome the world with one year until the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The countdown has begun. In one year, soccer fans will descend on cities across North America, including Vancouver, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Renée Lukacs has more on the preparations, and questions about the price tag.
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Hamilton Spectator
42 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Port Moody to plan FIFA 2026 viewing parties at Rocky Point Park
Port Moody is already getting FIFA fever. Council is kicking off early preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with plans to host public viewing events for up to 10 games at Rocky Point Park next summer, including all of Canada's matches as well as the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. City council unanimously approved the proposal at its June 10 meeting, directing staff to return by September with a full project plan and budget. Mayor Meghan Lahti, who introduced the motion, described the initiative as a rare opportunity to foster community spirit around a global event. 'This is kind of a fun thing,' she said. 'There is lots of time between now and then to organize.' The motion instructs staff to explore one-time funding sources – including surplus funds, grants, and sponsorships – to support costs related to licensing, audiovisual equipment, staffing, and security. It also asks staff to notify existing park partners like the Golden Spike Days Society, the Summer Sunday Concert Series, and the Rotary Club of Port Moody about the city's intentions to use part of the park during the weeklong window starting on June 13. Coun. Callan Morrison raised the possibility of inviting local charities to set up small booths for snacks and drinks. 'It's a great community gathering opportunity,' he said. 'Everybody around those international events – whether it be Olympics or FIFA – gets behind Team Canada.' While council was generally enthusiastic, they also raised practical concerns. Though the motion does suggest using an east-facing temporary screen to allow for visibility during afternoon and evening matches, Coun. Haven Lurbiecki worried it might still be hard to see. Coun. Kyla Knowles asked staff to consider diverse funding ideas, including donations, to help offset the expense: 'I'm not necessarily trying to turn this into a revenue-generating operation, but just to cover costs.' Morrison called for heat-mitigation plans such as shaded seating. 'It could be very, very hot,' he said, suggesting the use of bleachers and shaded areas that don't obstruct views. Lahti responded that bringing the idea forward now gives staff 'an opportunity to really think about this and to come back with something that's ultimately going to be the best-case scenario for the community.' Council also debated the location. Coun. Samantha Agtarap floated the idea of rotating some games through other city parks, while Coun. Kyla Knowles suggested showcasing some of the city's other parks, specifically pointing to some shadier options in the Glenayre neighbourhood. But Lahti emphasized the importance of accessibility. 'We want it to be central so people can take transit or the shuttle,' she said, noting that Rocky Point Park has the most space and is better equipped to handle larger crowds. Coun. Diana Dilworth suggested involving the Port Moody Soccer Club. 'They are hardcore soccer fans and I'm sure they would love to be a part of it,' she said. Staff is tasked with developing a comprehensive proposal, evaluating costs, equipment needs, and logistics. The aim, Lahti said, is to: 'support our community and bring people together.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
What If ... the U.S. Wasn't Robbed in the 2002 World Cup?
The United States men's national team could have made the 2002 FIFA World Cup final — in fact, they should have. And yet, they didn't. Why? An obvious handball that wasn't called in the quarterfinal against Germany. The rest is history. But WHAT IF we could rewrite history? After being eliminated in the Round of 16 in 1994 and not making it out of the group stage in 1998, the U.S. was primed for a run in 2002. They were able to finish as runners-up in their group, most notably defeating Portugal 3-2 and drawing with group winner South Korea. In the Round of 16, they faced Mexico for the first time at a World Cup — and recorded a 2-0 victory behind goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan. Next, it was on to the quarterfinal against powerhouse Germany. Michael Ballack got the Germans out to an early 1-0 lead in the 39th minute, but the Americans responded with several attacking plays to start the second half. But in the 50th minute, everything changed. _____ Off a U.S. corner kick by Donovan, a German player attempted to head the ball away from goal— only to have it find a wide-open Gregg Berhalter, who took a shot at goal from just a few yards out. German keeper Oliver Kahn was able to barely save the shot, but the ball would bounce off the arm of midfielder Torsten Frings who was defending the post. Immediately, U.S. players began clamoring for a handball, and when the replay was shown — it was clear as day. However, referee Hugh Dallas didn't call it. And with VAR not yet in existence, the call was irreversible. Had it been called, the U.S. would have been awarded a penalty kick, and Frings would have been given a red card. As mentioned, the U.S. were dominating the first 10 minutes of the half, and surely would have taken advantage of the 10-man German side. But WHAT IF the handball was called? Would the U.S. have lifted its first-ever World Cup trophy? Would soccer in the United States be viewed in a different light today? Let's dive in. _____ If the handball had been called, the best-case scenario would have resulted in Claudio Reyna scoring the game-tying penalty— and Germany would have had to fend off a momentum-driven American attack with just 10 men. So many of the legendary Americans could have subsequently scored the game-winning goal— with Donovan, McBride, Reyna, Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, and several others headlining the squad. Had they advanced, they would have faced South Korea in the semifinal, whom they had drawn with in the group stage. A win against the co-hosts would pit the U.S. against Brazil, and the U.S. would have made its first men's World Cup final ever. While the Brazilian squad was filled with superstars like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo— the exposure from such a massive stage could have changed the landscape of American soccer for the next two decades— regardless of the result. _____ Few can forget the dominant fashion in which the USWNT won the World Cup in 1991 and 1999. This sort of success undoubtedly influenced young American girls watching the tournament, leading to the likes of Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach— and current stars like Sophia Wilson, Trinity Rodman, and Naomi Girma. Such an emphasis on women's soccer in the United States has led to them winning four of the nine World Cups ever held. So what would a win over Germany in 2002 have resulted in for the men? Just imagine all the young boys who would have participated in soccer during the early 2000s instead of the usual suspects— Pop Warner football, little league baseball, and AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball. For perspective, in a study done by the National Federation of State High Schools in 2022, there were 374,773 participants in girls soccer for that school year— the third-highest of all sports. On the boy's side? Soccer participants ranked fifth, behind football, track & field, basketball, and baseball. _____ No U.S. coach has coached or won more matches in the team's history than Bruce Arena, with 148 and 81 respectively. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2010, but what would his career have looked like if he had taken down Germany in that 2002 World Cup quarterfinal? Arena had already won two MLS titles with D.C. United in 1996 and 1997 before spearheading the 2002 national team past the Round of 16 for the first time ever. Considering that two Arena's successors – Bob Bradley and Gregg Berhalter – were able to coach abroad, it's not unreasonable to think he could have done so as well. Had he taken a potential offer in Europe, that could have also changed the team's fortunes at the 2006 World Cup. The U.S. did not make it out of the group stage in 2006, finishing last in their group and ultimately leading to Arena's exit three weeks after the tournament. He'd go on to win three more MLS titles with the Galaxy in 2011, 2012 and 2014 and was again hired by the national team in 2016. In his second stint, the U.S. failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup— the first time that had happened since 1986. One can't help but wonder how all of this would have changed if the handball was called in 2002. _____ It's incredible to think about how a win over Germany would have changed the landscape of the MLS and American youth academies. Such an upset could have sparked massive national interest in soccer, leading to unprecedented investment in the U.S. youth soccer system. With never-before-seen pressure from both public and corporate entities, we could have seen high-level sponsorship in the MLS and a complete overhaul of youth academies— which has often been faulted for its pay-to-play model. The next five to ten years could have allowed for a network of talent aggregation modeled after the European youth system, emphasizing technical development and scouting in underserved communities. In turn, it's possible that an entire generation of world-class players would have emerged— with players like Christian Pulisic appearing in much greater numbers. Just imagine what the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cup results would have looked like for the U.S. had this occurred after 2002. It's totally in the realm of possibilities that the U.S. would be a consistent soccer powerhouse had this foundation been set. _____ Possibly the biggest question of all that arises from this hypothetical exercise, is just how much bigger soccer would be in this country had the U.S. taken down Germany with the correct call. It's hard to imagine that Landon Donovan wouldn't have become even more of an icon than he already is, and that he would have inspired several people to become fans of the sport. While it's hard to say that this single result would have propelled soccer as the top sport among Americans, there's little doubt that the millions of potential viewers a final or semifinal match would have generated would have changed the trajectory of the sport. For perspective, 26.7 million people watched the USWNT take down Japan in the 2015 World Cup final. The 2022 men's final between France and Argentina had over 25 million viewers. Just imagine a world in which the four-and five-star high school basketball and football recruits that colleges fight over grew up playing soccer instead. We'll never know. More Sports History "WHAT IFs?": What if ... Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe never got injured in 2001? What if ... the 49ers drafted Aaron Rodgers instead of Alex Smith in the 2005 NFL Draft? Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from United States Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cristiano Ronaldo Hints 'Short' Future after Winning UEFA Nations League with Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo Hints 'Short' Future after Winning UEFA Nations League with Portugal originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Cristiano Ronaldo has won his second UEFA Nations League with the Portuguese national team after defeating Spain on penalties. The final score was 2-2 after extra time, and Portugal won 5-3 on penalties. Advertisement Ronaldo played 88 minutes of regular time, but he had to be subbed off before the 90th-minute mark. He felt pain and couldn't continue despite pressing at times, and even scoring Portugal's second goal of the game. Ronaldo and Portugal are enjoying the country's second-ever UEFA Nations League and its third international trophy, but there are concerns about the injury Ronaldo suffered. Ronaldo's words after the game have led some fans to believe that he knows his professional career is nearly over. Ronaldo after UEFA Nations League Win The injury is yet to be known, but Ronaldo mentions that he was willing to sacrifice getting injured in order to help the team win. It turned out great for them as he scored the equalizer. Advertisement Ronaldo mentions that the injury has gotten worse and is focused on the current rather than the future. Cristiano Ronaldo: "The future? I'm thinking short-term. There was an injury, and it got worse and worse. I forced myself, because for the sake of the national team, you have to force yourself." Ronaldo was able to walk after the game and during the celebrations. It all seems fine, but Ronaldo mentioned that the pain he felt was there even before the game started. Cristiano Ronaldo: "I was feeling pain during the warm-up, and it had been ongoing for a while. But for the national team, if I had to break my leg, I would have. This is a title, and I had to play and give my all, I went to my absolute limit and contributed with a goal." At 40 years old, many wonder whether he can be fit enough to continue playing for the national team. His passionate words suggest he will push to continue. Cristiano Ronaldo: "You know how old I am already, obviously I'm closer to the end than I was at the beginning but I have to enjoy every moment. If I don't get seriously injured, I'll keep going." Ronaldo's impact on Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo's impact on the Portugal national team is unquestioned as he helped the country win its third-ever international trophy. Ronaldo has been a part of all three wins, which started in 2016. Portugal has won the 2016 EUROS, the 2019 UEFA Nations League, and now the 2025 UEFA Nations League. Portugal is the only nation to win two Nations Leagues in Europe. Advertisement With this win, Portugal fans are hopeful that glory can be achieved next year in the FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo is expected to continue his career, as many reports suggest he wishes to play in the summer tournament next year. How Portugal defeated Spain Lamine Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo met on the pitch for the first time, but they were not the best players for their teams. Spain led before halftime with goals from Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal. For Portugal, Nuno Mendes scored in the 26th minute for the equalizer. In the second half, Ronaldo scored another equalizer for Portugal. In the 61st minute, Ronaldo pushes the ball into the net after a great play from Mendes. Advertisement Ronaldo was subbed off the game due to an injury just before the 90th minute. Extra time was needed, but the two sides couldn't score a third. A penalty shootout was needed, where almost every penalty taker was perfect until Alvaro Morata's shot was saved by Diogo Costa. Ruben Neves scored the winning penalty for Portugal to win its second-ever UEFA Nations League. Related: Cristiano Ronaldo Responds to Idea of Playing Alongside Lionel Messi Related: At 40, Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks More Records as Portugal Topple Germany This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
