Training Sites
Venue Specific Training Sites (VSTS)
As Vancouver prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 26™, work is underway to prepare a vital component of this event - the Venue Specific Training Sites (VSTS). Each of the 16 Host Cities participating are required to provide these specialized training venues, and in Vancouver, they will be located at Killarney Park and Memorial South Park. These sites will serve as essential facilities for participating teams to train, providing the perfect environment for preparation ahead of matches at BC Place Vancouver.
What to expect at the VSTS
The VSTS are designed to meet event requirements, ensuring teams have the privacy and resources they need to train and prepare before their matches. These temporary facilities will include grass soccer pitches, field lights, team facilities such as locker rooms, and a press conference room.
Construction timelines
Development and construction of the training sites will commence in January 2025 and continue over the next two years. During this period, access to certain areas of Killarney Park, including Fields C and E, Diamonds NW, NE, and EC, as well as Memorial South’s oval grass field and walking track, will be restricted. Additionally, access to other grass fields at Killarney Park will be reduced due to major upgrades in alignment with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation’s Sport Field Strategy.
Community impacts
Public access will be limited during the construction and operational phases, from January 2025 to fall 2026. The FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver™ Host Committee recognizes the importance of Killarney Park and Memorial South Park to the surrounding communities and the regular visitors who enjoy these sites.
To minimize the impact on local sports, educational, and community groups, work is underway to seek appropriate locations and alternatives to suit the needs of those impacted. This includes relocating lost field booking times at replacement facilities and ensuring alternate locations are within the same geographical area where possible.
As a result of the work done to prepare for hosting training sessions, these sites will be upgraded to grass sport fields with lights, drainage irrigation systems and utilities which will enhance the park's long-term usability. Additionally, when Memorial Park is reopened to the public it will benefit from a resurfaced track.
Frequently Asked Questions
To identify these training site locations, the City of Vancouver and the Park Board conducted a comprehensive analysis of options throughout the city, assessing them against criteria outlined in the approved Sport Field Strategy as well as FIFA requirements. This included factors such as proximity to downtown Vancouver, lack of sightlines onto the pitch, the capacity to accommodate the necessary fields and facilities, equity initiative zones, neighbourhood and programming impacts and nearby transit options. The analysis ultimately identified a limited number of locations that met all requirements, with Killarney Park and Memorial South Park emerging as the most suitable options.
The FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver™ Host Committee are dedicated to keeping residents informed as we finalize plans for the training sites. While the FIFA site selection process involved certain confidentiality requirements, we will continue to share timely updates and information with the community as our work moves forward. Your input is important to us, and we look forward to keeping you informed.
The FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver™ Host Committee are dedicated to keeping residents informed and supporting their inquiries as we determine suitable alternative sites for the community where possible. We will continue to share timely updates and inform the community as work moves forward.
Additionally, staff will hold information sessions when there are further updates to share. The team is currently planning an information session later this fall in November 2024 at Memorial South Park to share updates on the design process with residents, as has been done for Killarney in September.
Access to Killarney Park North sports field and Memorial South Park oval will be closed beginning January 2025 through to fall of 2026.
Killarney Park and Memorial South Park will re-open in fall 2026. Exact dates will be confirmed through the planning and development process.
Training sites are part of the FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver™ Host Committee budget. For further information on the budget for the FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver™, please see the April 2024 provincial update.
Though there will be no alternate track, park users will be able to utilize the paved pathways around the perimeter of the existing synthetic turf field. Additionally, they may also consider alternate parks or school sites where there are paved tracks.
As part of the park rehabilitation process, the project will return the track to a resurfaced condition that matches the current size and number of walking/running lanes.
A temporary playground will be provided at Memorial South Park during the closure period in advance of the new destination playground and spray park slated to be delivered in 2027, subject to delays.
The FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver™ Host Committee are working to avoid impacts to the tennis courts, however there may be one small tree in this area that is impacted which will need to be removed.
The proposed site design was developed to avoid major impacts to mature trees. Up to 15 trees will be removed, including seven that are dead. Of the remaining eight, half of which are small in size, some will be removed to facilitate servicing that will enhance the park's long-term usability.
In alignment with the City of Vancouver's mandate to prioritize the protection and retention of trees in all projects, we will adhere to the Urban Forest Strategy, which specifies a replacement tree planting ratio of 1:1. This means we will be providing 15 new trees to replace all removed trees regardless of their current condition.
The Cenotaph will be accessible for Remembrance Day 2025.
A temporary sports field is in the process of being installed on the west side of Killarney Park to provide access to Killarney Secondary students as well as casual community use.
The dog off-leash area will temporarily shift to the north portion of west Killarney but remain open throughout.
The track is expected to close around February of 2025 as part of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation’s track renewal project, unconnected to FIFA World Cup 26™. The walking loops in the park and the surrounding sidewalks and walkways will serve as alternatives in the interim.
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