Rivers FC players at Hillside Stadium on June 19 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Connor Gunn

2022/2026 FIFA WORLD CUP

Impact of Canadian team in FIFA World Cup will be felt in Kamloops

Jun 20, 2022 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — It was announced last week that Vancouver and Toronto will host FIFA World Cup games in 2026.

As well, for the first time since 1986 — the Canadian Men’s Soccer team has qualified for this year’s (2022) world tournament.

“The interest level is going to be piqued to unbelievable new heights because we finally got another team into the World Cup,” says Rivers FC General Manager Keith Liddiard.

Liddiard says Canada having a team in the competition will help grow the sport.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Turtle Island

21h ago

Question of the Week

Is an apology or resignation by Bill Sarai appropriate for not revealing he had secretly recorded a conversation with Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson?

Dec 02, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Will the last month of the year be better than the first 11?

Dec 01, 2024

“When a team qualifies for a tournament like the World Cup, the result is that registration go up in the province significantly — both men and women — and that can only bode well for us in the future. The bigger the base of the pyramid, the more likely we are to get players at the top level to perform in tournaments like the World Cup.”

Head Coach of the Rivers FC women’s team, Jost Hausendorf, says the impact on the youth community will be felt in Kamloops and Canada.

“I feel like the World Cup is going to help a lot because that tournament is always going to be brilliant no matter who wins. No matter the outcomes it’s just going to inspire people — first of all the youth to start playing, new clubs to be set up to get more players into leagues like this.”

Hausendorf adds the competition level among the younger generation, and up to the professional stage, will only be increased nationally.

“It’s going to be great for Canada from an athletic standpoint. I guess you’re going to get more players, more people to select from and — overall, maybe in the future — improve the national teams and the whole professional setup.”

Upgrades to B.C. Place in Vancouver are going to be needed ahead of the World Cup in four years, but fans will rally behind the opportunity to watch games up close and personal.

“I think that the whole soccer community is going to be behind the team. I think ticket sales will go fast. I think people who will watch it on television will be glued to their set for every match and I think the World Cup is generally a huge stage on the international sports arena,” adds Liddiard.

Fans can watch Canada in the 2022 FIFA World Cup near the end of November as they take a run at the international world stage title.

Those same fans will, unfortunately, have to wait until 2026 to watch games being played in B.C.