One of Vancouver's 2026 FIFA World Cup training sites moved to the University of British Columbia
The municipal government notes that this revised venue plan will enable the withdrawal of the use of Memorial South Park for the FIFA World Cup, with construction upgrades that were planned now cancelled. The plan was to use a portion of the overall park footprint — an area that primarily contains the existing oval running track and field.
Existing condition of Memorial South Park, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
Cancelled plan: Artistic rendering of Memorial South Park as a training site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (City of Vancouver)
Instead, Memorial South Park will now remain fully accessible to the community leading up to and during the FIFA World Cup. This follows vocal opposition from neighbourhood residents and park users, including community groups and sports teams, over the prolonged temporary closure of the oval at Memorial South Park.
The National Soccer Development Centre at UBC was built in 2017 at a cost of about $33 million, with $14 million covered by the Government of British Columbia and about $19 million from the Vancouver Whitecaps to serve as their training facility.
Located just south of Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, the National Soccer Development Centre features three grass fields, two artificial turf fields, and a three-storey, 38,000 sq ft state-of-the-art fieldhouse.
National Soccer Development Centre at UBC. (Google Maps)
National Soccer Development Centre at UBC. (Bob Frid/Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
National Soccer Development Centre at UBC. (Bob Frid/Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
National Soccer Development Centre at UBC. (Bob Frid/Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
National Soccer Development Centre at UBC. (Bob Frid/Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
As originally announced last year, Killarney Park’s north field — currently configured for baseball and softball, located immediately north of Killarney Pool — will still serve as one of Vancouver’s two FIFA World Cup training sites.
Construction on the field changes at Memorial South Park was initially scheduled to begin in January 2025, with both sites expected to be fully completed by December 2025. However, only work on Killarney Park began as planned this month.
The temporary training site at Killarney Park will include FIFA-calibre grass soccer pitches, field lights, team facilities such as locker rooms, and a press conference room. This site will remain closed to the public until Fall 2026.
The upgraded sport field with lights, drainage irrigation system, and utilities will be a permanent FIFA World Cup legacy at Killarney Park.
This will be the second time Killarney Park has played host to a training site of a major international sports event, as the community centre’s Killarney Rink was constructed as the speed skating practice venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The municipal government previously allocated a capital budget of $37 million for the required upgrades at both FIFA World Cup training sites.
Upon inquiry today, the City of Vancouver told Daily Hive Urbanized that they expect the move to UBC will result in cost savings.
“We will have more to share about potential savings pending finalized arrangements with FIFA, the Vancouver Whitecaps and UBC. The City will share further information at that time,” said the City in an email.
A redacted 2023 Vancouver Park Board staff report notes that aside from Killarney Park and Memorial South Park, other training site location options that were previously considered include Trillium Park, Empire Fields at Hastings Park, Strathcona Park, and Jericho Beach Park’s west field. There was no mention of using the Whitecaps’ training facility at UBC.
During the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Trillium Park and Empire Fields were used as official training sites for the visiting teams.
Existing condition of Killarney Park’s north field:
Existing condition of Killarney Park, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
Future condition of Killarney Park’s north field as a 2026 FIFA World Cup training site:
Artistic rendering of Killarney Park as a training site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (City of Vancouver)
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