Soccer-Canada will spend C$1 billion to host World Cup, watchdog says


A drone view shows BC Place stadium, ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada May 12, 2026. REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier

May 20 (Reuters) - Canada ⁠is expected to spend just over C$1 ⁠billion ($727 million) to host the World ‌Cup this summer, according to a report from the federal budget watchdog published on Wednesday.

The estimated cost per game ​is C$82 million, the Parliamentary ⁠Budget Officer said, ⁠noting that amount is aligned with past public spending ⁠on ‌World Cup events.

Thirteen matches will be played in Toronto and Vancouver during ⁠the June 11-July 19 tournament, which ​Canada is ‌co-hosting with the U.S. and Mexico.

Of the C$1.066 ⁠billion ​price tag, the federal government will cover C$473 million and other levels of government will provide ⁠the remaining C$593 million.

As of ​April, the City of Toronto intended to spend C$380 million, which includes federal grants, to host ⁠six games. British Columbia had planned to spend C$578 million to host seven matches in Vancouver.

The federal government said in April it would ​allocate up to C$145 million ⁠for security during the tournament.

Canada start their World ​Cup campaign against Bosnia & ‌Herzegovina in Toronto on June ​12.

($1 = 1.3748 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Nicole Fernandes in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond)

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