BC Place in the headlines as Vancouver weighs MLS fate amid Whitecaps uncertainty and venue upgrades. Big stadium in Canada’s sports scene.
Iranian football officials have been denied entry to Canada and have returned to Turkey amid visa issues, as FIFA Congress in Canada grapples with Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup and broader geopolitical tensions.
The Vancouver Whitecaps are entering a new phase as a buyer group led by Grant Gustavson seeks to relocate the MLS club to Las Vegas, with MLS evaluating options for the team’s future amid a fragile lease and limited revenue options at BC Place.
Grass fields have been installed and tailored blends tested across MetLife and other venues to standardize play for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Trials show warm- and cool-climate grasses are needed for reliability and safety.
Egypt has rallied from an early deficit to beat New Zealand 3-1 at BC Place in Vancouver. Finn Surman gave New Zealand a 15th-minute lead, but Mostafa Zico equalised in the 59th minute, Mohamed Salah scored in the 67th and Trezeguet added a header in the 82nd. Egypt now top Group G with four points.
A Guardian feature details Kevin Kotoko and Austin Franklin, two Fox World Cup watchers who are stationed in a Times Square viewing cube for the tournament, offering a window into the surreal setup and the challenges of the assignment.
Canada has secured its first-ever World Cup victory with a 6-0 rout of Qatar, led by Jonathan David’s hat-trick. Ismaël Kone suffered a serious leg injury prompting red cards for a Qatar defender; Canada now leads Group B and faces Switzerland in the next match.
Jeremy Doku has returned to Belgium’s World Cup squad after attending the birth of his son, Praise, in London. He had left the team briefly due to illness and to be with his wife, then rejoined ahead of Belgium’s final group game against New Zealand. Teammates have shown support, while a French pundit’s comments about childbirth have drawn apologies from L’Equipe.