China News Agency, Toronto, June 16 (Reporter Yu Ruidong Xing Chong) On the 16th local time, FIFA announced the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Among them, there are 11 host cities in the United States, 3 cities in Mexico, and 2 cities in Canada, Toronto and Vancouver.

This will also be the first time the Men's World Cup will be held in Canada.

  The City of Toronto says the significant economic impact of the World Cup will aid Toronto's long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the tourism, hospitality and entertainment industries.

Mayor John Tory said it would be an opportunity to welcome the world and showcase the city to a global audience.

The cost of organizing the event in Toronto is estimated at C$290 million.

  British Columbia, where Vancouver is located, is expected to cost between C$240 million and C$260 million to host the World Cup.

But the province estimates the competition will generate more than $1 billion in additional revenue from the province's tourism industry during and five years after it is held.

The province's premier, John Horgan, said that hosting the World Cup isn't just for football, and that local people will enjoy economic growth in tourism and hospitality in the coming years.

  FIFA's requirement for venues is to accommodate at least 40,000 people.

By then, the World Cup in Toronto will be held at the Bank of Montreal Stadium (BMO Field), which can accommodate 28,000 people on the shores of Lake Ontario, so the stadium needs to be expanded.

The Vancouver event will take place at the 54,500-capacity BC Place near Chinatown.

It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2015 Women's World Cup.

  Edmonton, the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta, also participated in the bid to host the city, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

While expressing his disappointment, the mayor of the city, Sohi, said that he will put Edmonton on the world stage through other means, and will continue to work hard to boost tourism and create jobs in the city.

Montreal also participated in the bidding but withdrew in August last year due to cost concerns.

  Canada, Mexico and the United States won the right to jointly host the 2026 World Cup in June 2018.

  The 16 host cities announced this time also include 11 cities in the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York, and 3 cities in Mexico, including Mexico City and Monterrey.

By then, 48 teams will hold a total of 80 games, 10 of which are expected to be in Canada.

FIFA has not yet announced the specific games held in each city.

  FIFA President Infantino congratulated the 16 cities.

"It's a historic day for the people from these cities, for FIFA, for Canada, the United States, Mexico," he said.

We will work together to create an unprecedented World Cup.

(Finish)