city introduces downtown summer recreation for soccer, basketball ahead of world cup
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mascots play around with kids following a press conference in eau claire plaza on wednesday, may 20, 2026 to announce summer sport programs in downtown calgary.
brent calver/postmedia
calgary’s soccer scene is set for a boost this summer, as the city rolls out programs to complement the growing excitement about canada hosting world cup games.
the city is partnering with cavalry fc and calgary wild fc to stage soccer city, a series of free soccer clinics in peace park for kids aged eight to 17. calgary will also host three world cup parties downtown, where calgarians can cheer on team canada.
canada is co-hosting the 2026 fifa world cup alongside the united states and mexico, with toronto and vancouver selected as the country’s host cities. the tournament is scheduled to run from june 11 to july 19, with canada’s men’s national team expected to play in the opening match in toronto on june 12 before competing in additional group-stage games in vancouver.
the city will also bring back a summer basketball clinic series, partnering with the calgary surge professional basketball club.
“nothing brings people together more than sport, and (in) an olympic city like calgary, we know that better than most. this summer downtown is where calgarians will come together to play, connect and cheer,” said thom mahler, the city’s director of downtown strategy.
“these programs boost foot traffic, support local businesses and help build a stronger, more resilient downtown.”
soccer city will run from june 7 to sept. 2 on most sundays between 10 a.m. to noon, and will also offer kids a chance to meet the city’s professional soccer players.
“we are going to be the ones running these camps,” said sarah keilty-dilling, calgary wild fc goalie. “the players, the staff, the mascots are going to be here, and so for kids to be able to be to have access to their role models in sport can be a really powerful thing.”
she recalled what it was like for her to grow up in calgary without any female representation in professional soccer.
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“i didn’t even know that it was possible as a young girl to play sport professionally,” she said. “representation matters.”
wild fc goalkeeper sarah keilty-dilling speaks at a press conference in eau claire plaza on wednesday, may 20, 2026 to announce summer sport programs in downtown calgary.
brent calver/postmedia
for calgarians more interested in watching the action on the field rather than being on the field themselves, the city will host three world cup watch parties on june 12, 18 and 24 at eau claire plaza.
the calgary minor soccer association will also host a fun zone at the plaza where kids can jump into a mini pit, play in one-on-one games or test their kicking accuracy with the association’s new digital precision wall, complete with a leaderboard.
“these free public watch parties will give calgary families a welcoming and energetic place to come together, wear their jerseys, celebrate the goals and experience the biggest sporting event in the world, right here in the heart of our city,” said carlo bruneau, the association’s executive director.
and for local hoops fans, the surge city summer basketball series will run from june 2 to sept. 12 on tuesdays and thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m., and saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at century gardens. the series will be capped with a three-on-three tournament in september.
the program, piloted last summer, saw 1,100 registrants from 300 families participate in 58 sessions over the summer. “what is most meaningful to me is that over 93 per cent of those families decided to come downtown,” said dylan howe, president of calgary surge.
this year, the club added one more session, he added. “there were plenty of times last year where we actually filled registration within 24 hours of going live, so being able to add in a third session is just inviting more families and more participants to take part.”
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