When the FIFA World Cup kicks off in June, Canadians will be carrying a piece of local talent in their pockets.
Campbell River artist Glen Green saw his design for the new FIFA World Cup commemorative loonie officially enter circulation when the coin was unveiled on May 14, 2026, at a ceremony at B.C. Place in Vancouver. The design features a soccer ball in motion alongside the “FIFA26 CAN” maple leaf mosaic, with “Toronto” and “Vancouver” engraved below to honour Canada’s host cities.
Green, a resident of Campbell River for nine years, is no stranger to the pressure of designing for the Royal Canadian Mint. He has been collaborating with the Mint since 2007, a partnership that began after his reputation for sports art in North Vancouver caught the attention of officials.
“I was getting a pretty good reputation in Vancouver for sports art in particular—NHL players, Gretzky, Bobby Orr and even Rod Brind’Amour,” Green said. “Out of the blue, I got a call from the Mint. They were looking for people who were obviously knowledgeable about sports.”
The design process is highly competitive, typically involving a invitation to three or so artists. For the FIFA loonie, Green had to navigate the strict requirements of both the Mint and FIFA’s own design team.
“The Mint will give you ingredients that they need to have on the coin, and then you have to use your artistic talent to put that together,” Green explained. “FIFA is very particular. This coin actually took a while to get through their approval process.”
The Royal Canadian Mint is producing three million of the commemorative loonies, including two million colourized versions. Green also designed four additional collector coins as part of the series.
Green’s previous work includes the popular 2010 Olympic quarters, where he won the commission for a series of 12 designs. While he is self-taught and spent his early years “doodling” in school, he has turned that passion into a career that allows him to combine his love of sports with fine art.
“It’s so fun because it’s a piece of art that literally everyone in the country can enjoy,” Green said. “It’s a piece of art that will be around long after I’m gone.”
For those who don’t want to miss out on the chance of owning the 2026 FIFA World Cup coin, the collection can be found on the Canadian Mint site