Vancouver ranked best 2026 World Cup host city, Toronto 3rd

Canada takes on Ireland in Montreal in its final World Cup warmup, as players and fans build excitement ahead of the tournament. Genevieve Beauchemin reports.

Vancouver is the best North American city hosting the FIFA World Cup this summer, according to Sports Illustrated.

The venerable sports media outlet published a ranking Friday of all 16 American, Canadian and Mexican cities hosting games this summer, placing B.C.’s largest city at the top of the list.

Sports Illustrated says it considered “the venue, match schedule, location, climate, transit, tourist activities, walkability and bonus fan experiences” when coming up with its ranking, scoring Vancouver highly for B.C. Place stadium’s central location and easy transit access.

“Unlike in many cities, fans might be able to avoid driving entirely,” the list notes.

The publication also praises Vancouver’s milder summer heat—relative to several U.S. and Mexican host cities—and makes the obligatory mentions of mountains and ocean that characterize every favourable article written about the city by a non-resident.

Vancouver narrowly beat out its Pacific Northwest neighbour Seattle for the top spot on the list, while Toronto, Canada’s other host city, came in third.

Mexico City and Atlanta rounded out the top five, in that order.

B.C. Premier David Eby shared the Sports Illustrated list in a social media post Saturday morning.

“I’m so proud to see B.C.’s vibrant city get the recognition it deserves—especially up against 16 of North America’s best,” the post reads, in part.