World Cup brings soccer facilities and interest boost to B.C.

Soccer in British Columbia is seeing a rise in attention ahead of the FIFA World Cup, but leaders in the sport say the province still faces a shortage of places to play. With Vancouver set to host seven men’s World Cup matches at B.C. Place, Soccer B.C. says interest has climbed sharply over the past year. Officials and club leaders welcome the excitement, but say the event is unlikely to solve longstanding infrastructure problems on its own. At Killarney Park in East Vancouver, a field upgraded for World Cup training will be returned after the tournament to local user groups. In Langley, a new FIFA Arena minipitch is already drawing steady use, and more minipitches are planned across the province with funding from the province and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Club leaders say these additions are helpful, but the broader challenge remains the same: demand for soccer space continues to outpace supply, especially in Vancouver and other growing communities.