Beginning in January 2025, the Vancouver Park Board, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, will begin construction to transform Killarney Park into a Venue-Specific Training Site (VSTS) for the FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver™. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2025. To support its use during the tournament and facilitate post-event restorations, the site will remain closed to the public until fall 2026.
A requirement for all 16 host cities, the VSTS will support international teams with world-class fields as they prepare for their matches at BC Place Vancouver. The Killarney Park training site will include grass soccer pitches, field lights, team facilities such as locker rooms, provisions for privacy and a press conference room.
The upgrades planned for Killarney Park will have lasting positive impacts for the community once re-opened to the public, including enhanced grass sports fields, improved ground conditions, drainage and irrigation, new utilities and modern field lighting. Additionally, during the closure the Park Board will be progressing their track and field renewal project, upgrading and expanding the running track into a comprehensive track and field facility.
The Park Board and City of Vancouver are working with various sport, education and community groups to identify alternative locations to support their needs during the closure. To accommodate school and casual community use, staff will open a temporary grass field in the park’s southwest area in spring 2025. The dog off-leash area will be relocated to the north portion of west Killarney and remain open throughout the project. The park’s north sports fields (all weather and grass soft ball diamonds) will be closed through fall 2026.
More information on the construction timelines for Vancouver’s second training site at Memorial South Park will be shared when available.
