The federal government will pony up more than $104 million in funding to help Toronto host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement comes after Ottawa’s pledge of $116 million last month to help fund the Vancouver matches, for an overall investment of more than $220 million. This is the first time the federal government has gone public with a firm dollar-figure for the games following the successful global bid.
Toronto and Vancouver are the two Canadian cities set to host matches during the 2026 World Cup. Matches will also be played across the United States and Mexico.
Federal Minister of Sport Carla Qualtrough said the funding earmarked for Toronto would be used to support the operation and capital expenses of the six matches hosted by Canada’s largest city.
“Toronto will set an impressive stage to Canada as host of this international tournament,” Ms. Qualtrough said during a May 3 press conference at BMO Field. “FIFA 2026 will also generate significant economic impact here in Toronto, in Vancouver, and across the country.”
Ms. Qualtrough said the federal funding figure was based on the event’s operational and capital costs.
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The federal funding falls short of the possible 35 percent the government could have contributed for an event of this size. Ms. Qualtrough said the federal funding figure was based on the “unique” structure of Toronto’s event which will see FIFA, the city, and the provincial government kick in funds.
Ms. Qualtrough said there would be an open conversation with the city about their needs if costs continue to increase, but added the “expectation is we all stay squarely within these investments.”
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The City of Toronto has estimated it will cost $380 million to host World Cup matches, an increase of $80 million compared to a 2022 forecast. The increase is partly due to the addition of another match to the Toronto schedule.
The Ontario government will contribute $97 million in one-time funding, and the city is expecting to fork out $170 million.
“We signed the bid,” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said of the city’s portion of the bill. “We believe we will be able to raise the funds and contain the cost so that’s why we are moving forward with excitement.”
Approximately one-third of funding will go toward policing and security, Ms. Chow said. The addition of temporary seating and constructing an outdoor fan centre at BMO Field accounts for much of the capital costs.
“The stadium is going to have a lot more seats because that’s the FIFA requirements,” Ms. Chow said, adding that additional activities, such as a fan fest, are also included in the overall cost.
The mayor was questioned several times about the escalated costs of the event and the city’s ability to shoulder the burden.
“The bid is signed. We will move forward,” she said. “I will do my best to contain the costs.”
Ms. Chow has said in the past that the city will do some fundraising to alleviate the economic burden on taxpayers.
Despite the expense of Canada hosting matches in two cities, Ms. Qualtrough said the benefits outweigh the costs.
“FIFA 2026 will unite our country like nothing else can,” she said, adding that the event is expected to generate more than $2 billion in overall economic activity for Canada, including $395 million in projected visitor spending and about $350 million in tax revenues.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
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