(07/09/10) -

Canadians Willing to Host Soccer World Cup at Earliest Opportunity

A third of people across the country have been following the current tournament in South Africa.

A third of people across the country have been following the current tournament in South Africa.

The ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa has captured the attention of Canadians across the country and enticed many to have Canada host the soccer tournament in the future, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,009 Canadian adults, 34 per cent of respondents say they have been following the biggest soccer tournament “very closely” or “moderately closely.”

The majority of respondents (56%) would support launching a bid for Canada to host the Soccer World Cup in 2026, the next available date for bidding.

The World Cup is played every four years. Brazil will host the 2014 tournament. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is currently reviewing applications for countries wanting to host the next two World Cups, in 2018 and 2022. The decisions will be announced in December this year.

If the United States wins its bid for the 2022 tournament, Canada will not be able to apply to host the 2026 edition, since no two North American countries could consecutively host the championship. However, if the United States is not selected for 2022, a nation from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) could be chosen as a host for 2026. Only Mexico, the United States and Canada would be able to entertain bids that meet FIFA’s standards.

Breakdowns

Canadian men (41%) have been following the ongoing World Cup more than women (27%). Younger respondents (at least 35%) are only slightly more likely than those over the age of 55 (30%) to say that they have been following the event.

British Columbians (46%) have been especially interested in the current championship, allowing with more than a third of Ontarians (34%).

Both men (55%) and women (56%) are enthusiastic about the prospect of having Canada as the host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 (61%) are especially keen on hosting the tournament.

Albertans (66%) and Ontarians (60%) express the highest level of support for holding the World Cup in Canada.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From July 5 to July 6, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,009 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.