FIFA Launches 'Canada Celebrates' — 38-Stop National Fan Engagement Programme Ahead of World Cup

FIFA announced on April 9, 2026 the launch of 'Canada Celebrates,' a nationwide fan engagement initiative spanning 38 stops across 34 communities in Canada throughout the World Cup window (June 11 – July 19). The programme is designed to extend the tournament's cultural and commercial footprint across all six Canadian time zones, with FIFA stating that more than 75% of Canadian residents will be within a two-hour drive of at least one stop. Canada is one of three co-hosts alongside the United States and Mexico, with two Canadian host cities: Toronto (BMO Field) and Vancouver (BC Place). Canada's national team — qualified for their second consecutive World Cup — is drawn in Group B alongside Qatar, Switzerland, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The initiative is a significant outreach push to engage Canadian fans beyond the host stadium cities and arrives as the FIFA Congress gathers in Vancouver on April 30 — 22 days before the opening match on June 11. Canada Soccer CEO Nick Bontis had previously described the tournament as a 'transformational moment for football in Canada.' The programme marks a visible escalation in tournament engagement efforts with 63 days to kickoff.