COLUMBUS — The “political will” is strong in Canada to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani has mentioned Canada’s intention to bid for the biggest sporting event in the world.

He told the Toronto Sun in a sit-down interview prior to Sunday’s MLS Cup that he expects that process to begin as early as next summer.

“It can be done,” Montagliani said of Canada as host nation. “We need eight venues. Qatar is (hosting the 2022 World Cup) with eight venues.

“If we would have had this interview five years ago you would have said, ‘Oh my God. Where are you going to get eight from?’ But now Canada has eight. Some would have to be refreshed.”

He listed venues in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa as being expandable to meet World Cup standards.

Calgary and Regina, Montagliani added, are in the process of building. Montreal “needs a new stadium,” the CSA’s top boss said.

“There are 10 venues that have potential to be there,” Montagliani said. “We have the other infrastructure. That’s not an issue. From that standpoint, it’s not a problem.”

Infrastructure, though, is meaningless without political will, especially in an age where governments across the country are looking to save.

Toronto, for instance, quashed the idea of hosting a Summer Games after learning of the amount of capital it would take.

“We’re different than the Olympics,” Montagliani said of hosing a FIFA event. “You spread out risk and you spread out economics. What we saw with the women’s World Cup is that you leave a legacy.”

Heralded as a monumental success this past summer, the Women’s World Cup provided lasting infrastructure in multiple cities which included world class training facilities.

“When you announce a half-billion dollar economic impact, it doesn’t hurt either,” Montagliani added.

More proof there’s Canada-wide interest? Cities have already started reaching out to the CSA to throw support behind the sport.

“My e-mail inbox has been filling up with every mayor in the country saying, ‘Hey, we’re in,’ ” Montagliani said.

“In light of nobody stepping up to do a Summer Olympics, that bodes well for us,” he continued. “In the 2020s, we’re the only real viable international event Canada can host.

“It would be 16 years since the (Vancouver) Olympics and 11 years since the Women’s World Cup. A country should host an international event of this magnitude every decade. We’re in line with that reasoning.”

The once-complicated, politically-driven and pricey process to put together a winning bid is also expected to simplify. The cost of such a process is pegged at roughly $10 million.

In terms of competition ahead of 2026, the U.S. is lurking after watching what was “probably a winning bid,” according to Montagliani, controversially beaten out by Qatar.

Assuming it follows through with a bid, Canada could also face competition from a South American nation, Australia and Mexico.

Because Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022) are set to host the next two tournaments, countries from the European (UEFA) and Asian (AFC) confederations likely wouldn’t be allowed to submit a bid.

There’s also the possibility of a joint U.S.-Canada bid, although the CSA hasn’t held talks with the United States Soccer Federation.

“I’m not disinterested in (a joint bid),” Montagliani said. “We haven’t talked officially, but my door is open. We have an excellent relationship with U.S. Soccer on many, many levels.”

“If they wanted to, the U.S. could host the World Cup in the state of California.”

The U.S. last hosted a World Cup in 1994. Canada has hosted every other major FIFA tournament since then.

It’s Montagliani’s firm belief that there’s no reason Canada can’t host the crown jewel of FIFA events.

CSA TOP BOSS WANTS LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

There could soon be a solution to a hot button topic in Major League Soccer.

Ahead of next season Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani told the Toronto Sun that Canadian players should be on a “level playing field.”

As of now, Canadian players count as “internationals” on U.S.-based MLS rosters. Because each MLS team is allotted just eight “international” roster spots, American teams are hesitant to sign Canadians.

“I think we’ve gotten to a point where I’m hoping before the season starts we can make the announcement of a solution — a win-win solution for everybody,” said Montagliani, who met with MLS officials here in Ohio.

“We’re working on a few initiatives that I obviously can’t speak about, but hopefully before the MLS season starts there’s a solution that gives our boys a level playing field,” he said. “We’re looking at all kinds of models from opening it up or something that’s incentive-based or something that’s cap-based. We’re looking at all types of solutions.”

The league regularly suggests one of its mandates is to grow the game in Canada.

Giving clubs more freedom to sign Canadians would be a step in the right direction.