Next month, millions across the globe will be tuning in to the 2026 World Cup, and Calgarians are no different.
In preparation for the games, the City of Calgary has announced a handful of downtown watch parties and free youth sports programming.
This summer, downtown Calgary will host the Surge City Hoops Summer Series, Soccer City FC, presented by Cavalry FC and Calgary Wild FC, and World Cup watch parties, supported by the Calgary Minor Soccer Association (CMSA).
Sarah Keilty-Dilling, a goalkeeper for the Calgary Wild FC, who was a teacher in Calgary before going pro, said that allowing as many kids to access sport as possible is key.
“Access to programs for young kids and families, not only to engage with professional athletes and professional soccer players and basketball players with these programs, but also to have that access for free and to be able to engage with the downtown community as well, is awesome,” she said.
“Speaking for myself, growing up, I spent very little time downtown, and I think it is really cool that these events are happening downtown, because it does give kids an opportunity to engage with their city more and experience soccer at a high level and be coached by professional athletes and be connected with their soccer community, it’s amazing.”
Led by Calgary Surge players and coaches and supported by the Centre for Newcomers, the Surge’s series of free basketball clinics for kids ages 8-17 will run from June 2 to Sept. 12.
Sessions will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, at Century Gardens. The Surge City 3-on-3 tournament will also return in September, according to a city-issued release.
For the first time in 2026, Soccer City FC will be held in Peace Park from June 7 to Sept. 2, most Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon. In partnership with Cavalry FC, Calgary Wild FC, CMSA, and Centre for Newcomers, the program offers youth, ages 8-17, a chance to learn from coaches at no cost.
For Calgarians interested in cheering on Team Canada, World Cup watch parties will be held during tournament play at Eau Claire Plaza on June 12, 18 and 24 and for the tournament final on Stephen Avenue on July 19.
Calgary sport trending upwards: Officials
With Calgary’s sports teams playing all across the city, Dylan Howe, president of the Calgary Surge, said that coming together in the city’s core is important for building community among both people and teams.
“We all have a role to play, whether it’s soccer, hockey, basketball, lacrosse, we’re all community leaders in sport. You don’t necessarily need to play a specific sport for your entire life; the goal is to be active, and by being able to partner together, having free programming, it’s a great opportunity to try something different,” he said.
“You might be a soccer fan, but you might try basketball, or lacrosse, and then turn into a new sports fan, so if we can be a pillar amongst the other partners in the city, then we’re doing our job.”
Howe said that from coast to coast, basketball in Canada has never been stronger.
“We have to remember we have a two-time NBA MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and basketball is in the best spot it’s ever been. For us, knowing that 75 per cent of our roster in the CEBL must be Canadian, is another reason why we’ve been able to develop the league as we are, because we have the homegrown talent that may not have been here 20 years ago, but it’s here today,” he said.
“As a soccer fan myself, I love to see the momentum that we’ve been able to grow from a soccer perspective as well.”
Mason Trafford, Cavalry FC Commercial Director, agreed with Howe’s sentiment.
“As an adopted Calgarian myself, this city shows up for its people, and it shows up for its sports teams. We’re right on the eve of something really special, an inflection point for our sport, soccer, and for the city of Calgary to reach out and bring these groups together and see this opportunity for me, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
“Soccer has arrived, not only in Calgary, but in Canada. We are 30th in the world; there are 48 teams in this World Cup. We want to be in the community every day, inspiring the next generation. I truly believe that the next great player from Canada will be from Calgary, the next Alfonso Davies, we will produce that player here in our great city.”
