Canada Set to Spend About $1.1 Billion on 2026 World Cup Matches

The Canadian government will spend approximately 1.1 billion dollars to host its portion of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, according to a report released Wednesday by the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The analysis details the costs to be borne by taxpayers for the 13 matches scheduled in Toronto and Vancouver this summer.

The federal government's share is estimated at 473 million dollars, with provincial and municipal governments covering the remaining 593 million. This translates to a cost of roughly 82 million dollars per game hosted in Canada. The report states this figure is consistent with past public spending for World Cup events.

A significant portion of the federal expenditure is allocated to security for the tournament. Other substantial costs include stadium upgrades, improvements to sporting infrastructure, and grants to local governments. The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with the final to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The North American iteration marks the first World Cup to be hosted across three nations. While FIFA, football's global governing body, receives direct revenue from ticket sales,...