Carney Welcomes FIFA President for 2026 World Cup Trophy Tour

Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino to Ottawa on Sunday as part of the 2026 World Cup trophy tour, with the tournament set to kick off in Canada next month.

The event took place at Lansdowne Park’s Aberdeen Pavilion, where Carney raised the World Cup trophy alongside Infantino and Italian soccer legend Alessandro Nesta. Canada is co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Mexico, and the trophy tour is serving as a prelude to the matches.

Carney said soccer has flourished in Canada since the national men’s team made its first World Cup appearance in 1986. He pointed to the Canadian women’s team winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a milestone in the sport’s growth. The prime minister also announced that the federal government is investing $755 million over the next five years to develop soccer at all levels across the country.

Infantino expressed excitement about bringing the World Cup to Canada for the first time. He called on Canadians to fly flags from every window during the tournament to help welcome the world. Organizers expect the event to draw significant international attention to the host cities.