B.C. funds 20 mini soccer pitches with Whitecaps and viaSport in World Cup legacy project

The Whitecaps are teaming up with the B.C. government on a project aimed at leaving a lasting legacy from this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

The B.C. government is partnering with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and viaSport to fund the construction of 20 mini soccer pitches across the province as part of a legacy project tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Officials say the initiative aims to improve access to sport and encourage youth participation, particularly in underserved, rural and remote communities.

Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Minister Anne Kang says the project is focused on ensuring long-term benefits from the international tournament, which will see Vancouver host seven matches over a 25-day period.

“This moment is about far more than what happens during the tournament,” said Kang. “It’s about what happens because of it and the legacy we leave behind.”

The Whitecaps will manage the program, with communities able to apply through the club’s website. The team has previously supported similar efforts, including building mini pitches in nine Indigenous communities through a past partnership.

Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster says the fields will give young people more opportunities to stay active and engaged.

“Kids that are on mini pitches and play with their friends are not sitting at home in front of a screen living in a virtual world and seeing content that might be right or not right for them,” he said.

The project carries a $13-million price tag, with roughly $4.5 million paid for by the province, $5.5 million by viaSport and $3 million in in-kind contributions from the Whitecaps.

Each mini-pitch will be 60 by 120 feet, with an enclosed, level surface built to accommodate a variety of sports throughout the year.

Kang says the province will be releasing a report in late spring regarding the updated cost of hosting the World Cup.