FIFA '26
By Elke Porter | WBN News World Sports | October 8, 2025
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As Canada gears up to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the U.S. and Mexico, Vancouver’s role—hosting seven matches at BC Place—faces a precarious financial outlook. With just eight months until the June 11, 2026, kickoff, British Columbians are left questioning whether Prime Minister Mark Carney will honour the financial commitments made by Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to protect the province from the event’s soaring costs and “extraordinary risks.
”In April 2024, the B.C. NDP government estimated FIFA 26 costs at $483–$581 million, covering stadium upgrades, security, and operations. By June, inflation and global supply chain pressures drove projections to $532–$624 million.
A provincial spending update, obtained by journalist Bob Mackin through freedom-of-information requests for theBreaker.news, stressed Ottawa’s expected role as a “full partner” in addressing risks such as global economic downturns, wildfires, floods, or heightened geopolitical tensions requiring enhanced security. Trudeau’s Liberals pledged to match provincial funds and cover federal-level expenses, like RCMP protection for dignitaries.
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Yet, unlike the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where a multiparty agreement clearly outlined federal, provincial, and municipal roles, no such contract exists for FIFA 26. B.C.’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport confirms, “A multiparty agreement has not yet been finalized.”
This gap leaves Vancouver’s event organizers in limbo, with insiders noting that preparations depend on federal funding. Carney, who took the Liberal leadership in March 2025, inherited these promises. Ottawa has allocated $116 million to Vancouver—matching Toronto’s $104 million—for core infrastructure, but this falls short of addressing B.C.’s $100-million-plus shortfall or the promised risk buffer.
Adding to the opacity, British Columbia has been collecting a 2.5% Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) on hotel stays in Vancouver to bolster its FIFA World Cup 2026 budget, amassing millions for event planning. An 11-person steering committee, appointed by the B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, is responsible for overseeing preparations.
However, the panel operates behind closed doors, providing no public updates on their decisions or how the funds are allocated. This lack of transparency has fuelled public skepticism regarding fiscal accountability—especially in light of Toronto’s projected costs ballooning to $380 million, while the Ontario government’s $97-million pledge remains unmatched by the federal government.
Vancouver’s proven track record—1976 Olympics, 1986 Expo, 2010 Games—highlights its capability, yet the lack of a binding agreement risks financial disarray. With ticket resellers touting “re-mortgage-your-home” prices for BC Place seats, Carney must act swiftly to secure funding and restore confidence. Will he deliver the deal or leave B.C. holding the bag? Canada’s global moment hangs in the balance.
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