Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Washington, D.C. on December 5 to represent Canada at the Final Draw ceremony for the FIFA World Cup 26
, marking a major milestone as Canada prepares to co-host the tournament with Mexico and the United States.
The Final Draw determines group-stage matchups among the 48 competing nations, with seeds arranged according to world rankings and host-country status.
While in Washington, the Prime Minister will also attend a World Cup celebration and tree-lighting ceremony at the Embassy of Canada, co-hosted by Canada Soccer and Ambassador Kirsten Hillman.
For the first time in the 96-year history of the men’s World Cup, matches will be played on Canadian soil. Canada will host 13 games, seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto, giving domestic fans unprecedented live access to top-tier international football.
The tournament is expected to carry significant economic and social value. Hosting duties are projected to support nearly 25,000 jobs and generate close to $2 billion in economic activity nationwide. The last major FIFA event in Canada, the Women’s World Cup in 2015, drew 1.35 million spectators and spurred almost $500 million in economic activity.
Carney says the moment is about more than sport, calling it a chance for Canadians to come together, support the national team, and showcase the country on a global stage.
The FIFA World Cup 26 will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with 104 matches across 16 host cities in North America.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
