Canada is projected to spend over a billion dollars to host the 2026 World Cup, as indicated by a recent report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO). The total cost for hosting games in Vancouver and Toronto is estimated at $1.066 billion, with the federal government covering $473 million and the remaining amount funded by other government levels.
Out of the 104 games scheduled across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19, Canada will host 13 matches, with seven to be held in Vancouver and six in Toronto. The primary focus of federal support is on infrastructure and security, with $220 million allocated for operations and infrastructure transfers to other government levels, $145 million for security operations, and an additional $79 million for the RCMP.
According to the PBO, it will cost Toronto approximately $380 million and Vancouver around $578 million to host their respective games, factoring in federal financial assistance. Comparatively, the $82 million per game support from the government aligns closely with previous tournaments. Notably, Canada’s costs are lower than recent World Cup hosts, with Russia spending $109 million per game in 2018, Japan and South Korea $112 million in 2002, and Brazil $125 million in 2014. In contrast, France’s expenses were $22 million per game in 1998, and Germany’s were approximately $50 million each in 2006.
The PBO cautions that its estimates for previous World Cups are conservative, as they only cover organization and venue expenses. Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced plans to distinguish operational spending from capital investments in future federal budgets to enhance transparency. The PBO estimates that $128.1 million of the federal contribution could be considered a capital expenditure, with a significant portion allocated to BMO Field in Toronto, B.C. Place in Vancouver, and other FIFA training facilities in the country.