The FIFA 2026 Men’s World Cup for the first time ever

it will touch Canadian Soil!

How do you envision celebrating this historic event in our community? Let us know by sending your thoughts and suggestions via email.

🌍⚽ Committee for Organizing Committee for the Activities during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Makes Progress! ⚽🌍

Port Alberni, BC – On Thursday, January 16, 2025, the Committee for Organizing Friendly Matches and Activities during the 2026 FIFA World Cup gathered at the INEO Employment Services Group Room in Port Alberni. Chaired by Terry Deakin and with Abu Jahangir serving as Secretary, the meeting brought together key members to discuss exciting plans for this global event!

Key Highlights:
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Strong partnerships with Hupacasath, ACRD, and ongoing talks with Tseshaht, City of Port Alberni, local businesses, more.
• Event Focus: A single, high-profile friendly match between Team Canada and a top international team will be held in Port Alberni.
• Coordinator Role: Decision to hire a coordinator immediately. Possible funding opportunities to be explored.
• Logistical Planning: Abu and Willa Thorpe are working closely with BC Soccer to ensure all field and stadium requirements are met.

The committee is dedicated to showcasing Vancouver Island and creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved in the 2026 FIFA World Cup! Stay tuned for more updates!

Next meeting: February 6, 2025 – Venue to be confirmed.

🌍 Exciting News for Soccer Fans in Vancouver Island! ⚽🌟

On March 3rd, the Organizing Committee for the FIFA 2026 Friendly Match & Activities welcomed Gabriel Assis, CEO of BC Soccer Association, to the Alberni Valley!

One of the biggest takeaways? The possibility of hosting a World Cup-playing nation right here in our community! 🎉🔥 This could bring global attention, star players, and incredible community engagement to the region.

BC Soccer is guiding us through the next steps, and with the right planning, funding, and partnerships, we could welcome an international team to train, play, and inspire future generations of soccer players.

Stay tuned as we work on making this a reality! Let’s bring the world to Alberni Valley! 🌎⚽🏆

This initiative is proudly supported by several key local Government, Organizations and Groups working together to bring FIFA 2026 to the Alberni Valley. These include:

Hupacasath First Nation, Tseshaht First Nation, Huu-ay-aht First Nation, The City of Port Alberni and The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, all of whom are helping to build a collaborative and inclusive community.

Additionally, the Alberni Valley Youth Soccer Association, Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Merchants Association. INEO Employment Services, and Agrohope Farms & Products Inc are contributing their expertise in youth development, employment, and community outreach. Lastly, the Alberni Valley Salvation Army, Rotary Club of Port Alberni Arrowsmith and Rotary Club of Port Alberni are the vital partners in promoting local engagement and support for the event.

Please contact Abu Jahangir at ahmjahangir@agrohope.ca or Terry Deakin at terry@ineoemployment.com if you would like to support the initiative, participate with your ideas and thoughts, or volunteer. Your involvement will help make this event a success for the Alberni Valley community!
#FIFA #soccer #albernivalley #worldcup #portalberni #VancouverIsland

Port Alberni Gears Up for FIFA 2026 with Provincial Backing from MLA Osborne

22nd April 2025: At 9:00 AM on April 22nd, the Organizing Committee for FIFA 2026 Activities in Port Alberni met with Josie Osborne, MLA and Minister of Health for the Province of British Columbia, at her Port Alberni office.

Abu Jahangir presented an overview of the committee’s progress and vision in preparing the official Host City Offer, showcasing Port Alberni’s readiness to welcome a World Cup-playing nation for climatization and training.

Minister Osborne expressed her support for the initiative and affirmed her willingness to advocate for its success at the provincial level.

The meeting concluded with thanks and a shared commitment to continue working collaboratively toward this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Alberni Valley.

Port Alberni Submits Official FIFA 2026 Team Base Camp Bid to BC Soccer, Canada Soccer, and FIFA – May 8, 2025

Meeting Summary: Discussion with MP Gord Johns on FIFA 2026 Activities

On May 20, 2025, members of the Alberni Valley FIFA 2026 Organizing Committee met with MP Gord Johns at Steampunk Café. Attendees included Committee Chair Terry Deakin, General Secretary Abu Jahangir, and Debbie Haggard (Board Member and The City Councillor).

Abu Jahangir provided a briefing on the Host City Offer and shared updates on the committee’s progress. MP Gord Johns expressed strong support for the initiative and confirmed his willingness to advocate for the Alberni Valley at the federal level.

FIFA Officials Visit Port Alberni in 2026 Training Base Effort

On July 3rd, 2025, Port Alberni welcomed the Executive Director of Stadium and Venue Management from FIFA Canada for an official site visit as part of the city’s bid to become a FIFA 2026 Official Training Base. A meeting was held at Echo Centre with members of the local organizing committee and City officials, including Terry Deakin, Abu Jahangir, Jamie Lowery, Debbie Haggard, Mike Fox, Rob Kraneveldt, Ralph Specener, and Travis Cross. This is an important milestone toward placing Port Alberni on the global soccer stage.

FIFA Recognizes Port Alberni’s Progress Toward 2026 Training Base

Following the July 3, 2025 visit to Port Alberni by FIFA Canada’s Executive Director of Stadium and Venue Management, our community has entered the compliance review stage for the FIFA 2026 Team Base Camp process. In his follow-up on July 9, Don Hardman shared FIFA’s presentation materials and key resources, including the FIFA Quality Programme for Natural Playing Surfaces, the FIFA Natural Pitch Rating System, and FIFA Natural Turf Guidelines. This recognition highlights Port Alberni’s progress as the only publicly declared non-host Canadian city under consideration to host a participating nation for pre-tournament and climatization training, reinforcing our commitment to meeting FIFA standards and showcasing Port Alberni as a strong candidate for the FIFA World Cup 2026.included guided tours of Bob Dailey Stadium, Echo Minor Fields, and the Best Western Barclay Hotel.

Province Backs Port Alberni’s FIFA 2026 Training Base Bid

On July 10th, 2025, The FIFA 2026 Activities Organizing Committee has received a letter of support from the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, recognizing our community’s efforts to host a Team Base Camp. While no specific provincial funding is available at this time, the Province values our initiative and looks forward to ongoing collaboration.

Port Alberni Recognized by FIFA as Eligible Training Base for World Cup 2026

On July 30, 2025, Don Hardman, Executive Director of Stadium and Venue Management for FIFA Canada, held a virtual meeting with Terry Deakin and Abu Jahangir. In this meeting, FIFA officially recognized Port Alberni as an eligible host community for Pre-Tournament and Climatization Training for any FIFA World Cup 2026 participating nation.

FIFA confirmed that Port Alberni’s Team Base Camp proposal will remain active and visible to national federations preparing for the tournament. After the final draw, if a nation selects Port Alberni as its training base camp, FIFA will facilitate the formal agreement between the national team and the community.

This milestone positions Port Alberni as the only non-host Canadian city recognized by FIFA for 2026 Team Base Camp opportunities. As the process advances, Port Alberni is committed to following all FIFA compliance manuals, facility guidelines, and operational standards to ensure readiness to welcome a participating nation.

We remain committed to advancing our goals for FIFA World Cup 26™.

Update: Meeting with School District 70 – September 8, 2025

On September 8, 2025, representatives of the Alberni Valley FIFA 2026 Organizing Committee met with School District 70 at the District Board Room.

Attendees included Terry Deakin and Abu Jahangir from the Organizing Committee, along with Pam Craig, Peter Klaver, James Messenger, and Paula Mason from the School District.

During the meeting, it was confirmed that James Messenger (Assistant Superintendent) will serve as the contact person from the School District 70 for the Facility Assessment and Implementation Working Group. Once dates and times for the field assessments are finalized, James will share the information with teaching staff. This will allow schools to explore how student participation can be incorporated into their curriculum as part of this unique learning opportunity.

Update: Virtual Meeting with FIFA Canada – September 15, 2025

On September 15, 2025, at 4:15 p.m., the Alberni Valley FIFA 2026 Organizing Committee held a virtual meeting with Don Hardman, Executive Director of Stadium and Venue Management, FIFA Canada, and Abu Jahangir, representing the Organizing Committee.

The discussion focused on facility assessment and compliance requirements for Bob Dailey Stadium and the Echo Minor Field. Don Hardman shared valuable FIFA resources and guidelines to support the process.

With this guidance, the Organizing Committee will begin initial conversations with FIFA-accredited agencies that have North American networks to request preliminary quotes and scopes of work.

This marks an important step toward ensuring Port Alberni’s facilities meet FIFA standards for potential use as a Pre-Tournament or Team Base Camp.

September 18, 2025: FIFA-Accredited Agency Responds with Quote for Field Certification

Next Meeting: TBD