Inflation drives Toronto 2026 FIFA World Cup cost estimate up to $300 million
The estimated cost to taxpayers for Toronto to host several 2026 FIFA World Cup games has risen to about $300 million, or at least $60 million per expected game.
Toronto city staff says the estimate has increased by about $10 million due to “recent escalation in inflation rates.”
The cost of hosting the matches now approaches the net GDP benefit to the city, pegged at $307 million and 3,300 direct new jobs. Although, the federal and provincial governments are expected to pay two-thirds, or about $184 million of the cost.
Meanwhile, Toronto is expected to fork over $77.1 million, along with $24 million worth of services in kind. Staff say the city can pursue sponsorships and rights sales to recoup some of these costs.
When the City of Toronto initially expressed interest in hosting games back in 2018, the cost to taxpayers was estimated between $30 and $45 million.
The spending includes $15 million to upgrade sports fields at Sunnybrook and Centennial parks for guest team training purposes, and $25 million to increase capacity at BMO Field.
FIFA requires men’s world cup stadiums to hold a minimum of 45,000 fans, meaning BMO Field will need a significant expansion of at least 15,000 temporary seats.
The city will also be responsible for hosting a “FIFA FanFest” running the length of the 34-day tournament and beefing up area public transport services and security.
The city will hire nine employees in 2022 to begin planning and operations work for hosting the games.
Canada will host 10 of the 80 games in the expanded 48-team format tournament, with matches split between Toronto and Vancouver.
So far it is not clear how many of the games each of the Canadian host cities will get.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
Man accused of killing two children at Quebec daycare to stand trial in April 2025
The man accused of murdering two children and injuring six others after a city bus crashed into a Montreal-area daycare is scheduled to stand trial over five weeks beginning in April 2025.