Q24N — Of the three World Cup hosts, perhaps the most relaxed, secure, and least media-driven is Canada. The northernmost nation on the continent will host 13 matches in Toronto and Vancouver, the most notable being two Round of 32 matches and one Quarter-Final.
However, there is a striking absence among the Canadian venues: the city of Montreal. This city is the largest in the province of Quebec and is remembered for hosting the 1976 Olympic Games, among other major events.
According to Radio Canada International (RCI), the country’s main French-speaking city has still not overcome the “trauma” of the enormous debt left by the 1976 Olympics, the cost of which took 30 years to pay off.
These costs have also drawn criticism in Canada, as it has been estimated that hosting two World Cup venues will cost Canadian taxpayers around US$1 billion.
But Montreal didn’t just consider its finances; it also refused to accept the restrictions FIFA would impose on holding other major events of great importance to the city: the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Montreal Triathlon, and the Montreal Francos Festival.
The restrictions FIFA sought included a ban on scheduling any activities at the city’s Olympic Stadium between April 25 and June 19. The World Cup venues also could not be used for any other purpose for 23 months prior to the tournament.
Furthermore, FIFA wanted access to Jean-Drapeau Park and Montreal’s Old Port from May 22 to July 17 of this year to organize events.
For all these reasons, Montreal is not hosting any official matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.