Toronto will be part of a North American bid to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup as long as funding is provided by the federal and provincial governments. On Thursday, council voted 29 to 1 in favour of the bid. The Olympics run from Feb. 9 to 25 in South Korea and some women and men’s semi-final and final matches are scheduled to begin in the morning. Support for the World Cup in Toronto is strong from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and BMO field could be used if the joint bid is successful, a staff report noted. Several smaller soccer pitches could be used as training facilities for visiting teams “although these may require upgrades in order to meet FIFA playing standards.”

Source: thestar February 02, 2018 00:00 UTC