Fifa calls it a 'Community Activation': it takes place July 9th

By Gazette Staff

April 9th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

According to Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna, acting in his capacity as Deputy Mayor for Recreation, Burlington has been selected as part of a first-of-its-kind program that will bring together communities across the country to celebrate soccer. The city will host a Community Activation on July 9, the day the quarter finals start.

“I’m pleased for the city, it is going to be a great event in the community; we are proud that FIFA selected us as a host community, it is going to do wonders for the excitement. From a tourism and business perspective, we should get a lot of people coming here to use our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores. I expect the city to be buzzing.”

Not so fast: Bentivegna goes on to say “no details on what the event will look like have been nailed down yet, but that information should be available in May.

What is all this going to cost the city?

Where will the event take place?

Odd as well, that there hasn’t been a word from the Mayor who is usually the spokesperson for the city.

Watch this one carefully.  Bentivegna is rarely right on anything he sees as great for the city.

MPP Natalie Pierre the night she won her seat by a slim 44 votes.

MPP Natalie Pierre is reported to have said: “It’s wonderful to see Burlington be part of the Canada Celebrates FIFA World Cup 2026 tour, giving local residents the opportunity to experience the excitement of FIFA right here in our community,”

This MPP chooses media sources that don’t ask her tough questions.

Responsible MPPs treat all media with the same access.