FIFA World Cup will cost Canada more than $1B in public funding, says budget watchdog

Field work continues at BMO Field as the City of Toronto and MLSE complete the first phase of upgrades in transforming the space into the 2026 World Cup ready Toronto Stadium in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

Canada is expected to spend more than $1 billion on the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, according to a report from the federal budgetary watchdog.

The estimated cost per game is $82 million, the Parliamentary Budget Officer forecasts, noting that figure is in line with past public spending on World Cup events.

Canada is one of three host nations, along with the U.S. and Mexico. The games in Canada, which run from June 11 to July 19, are split between Toronto and Vancouver. Seven will take place in Vancouver, and six in Toronto.

Those 13 games come with an estimated $1.07 billion price tag, $473 million of which will come from Ottawa, and the remainder coming from other levels of government.

As of April, the City of Toronto intended to spend $380 million on hosting fees, which includes existing federal grants. B.C. planned to spend $578 million.

Cost of the games

Looking at cost-per-game, here’s how previous FIFA World Cups compare to Canada’s spending:

• Canada (2026): $82 million
• Russia (2018): $109 million
• Brazil (2014): $125 million
• South Africa (2010): $101 million
• Germany (2006): $51 million
• Japan/South Korea (1998): $112 million

More details to come.