Hosting 10 FIFA World Cup matches in 2026 in Toronto and Vancouver has become a financial drain.
Sports Radio-Canada has learned that federal government spending projections related to presenting these 10 matches are close to $700 million.
If we take into account contributions from the cities and provincial governments involved, the bill for Canadian taxpayers will easily exceed $1 billion.
To understand what is happening, it is worth remembering how the Montreal nomination was previously managed by the Quebec government. Clearly, the Legault government has recognized signals that have not been picked up elsewhere in the country.
In July 2021, Montreal caused a stir by announcing that it was abandoning three World Cup matches. FIFA In the Olympic Stadium. This decision came due to the withdrawal of financial support from the provincial government. In Quebec, there has been concern about the explosion in costs and the fact that many government requirements FIFA She was still unknown.
In 2018, when Philippe Couillard’s Liberal government backed the possibility of showing World Cup matches in the capital, the reported costs amounted to about $50 million per level of government, for a total bill of $150 million to show six matches. matches.
But in January 2021, requirements FIFA It has already raised the bill to about $300 million, although the number of games to be played in Montreal has been cut by half. Furthermore, this $300 million did not take into account the expensive renovations that will have been made to the Olympic Stadium since the Olympics. FIFA It requires, in particular, that World Cup matches be held outdoors and on natural grass. However, the history of the past 40 years has shown us that it is never easy or economical to deal with a stadium roof.
Montreal’s Olympic Stadium was scheduled for renovations to host the FIFA World Cup.
Photo: Radio-Canada/Alexandre Letendre
In a letter to Valérie Plante, Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx pointedly indicated in January 2021 that the Quebec government feared it would find itself caught in an unhealthy financial spiral.
Given the significant contribution of $103.4 million expected from the Government of Quebec, but also the numerous unknown costs associated with the application file between now and the submission of the final specifications in 2023, I regrettably feel compelled to inform you that the Government of Quebec will not be able to commit […]
He meant the minister.
After Montreal withdrew, Edmonton’s candidacy was previously rejected FIFA. Therefore, Toronto and Vancouver were the only Canadian cities selected, each receiving a five-game bid. In addition to Toronto and Vancouver, 11 American cities and three Mexican cities will present the 100 matches in this major competition.
In July 2022, a year after Montreal’s nomination was withdrawn, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chao’s administration published an update revealing that initial projections had also doubled in the Queen City.
Instead of having to top $30 million to $45 million as planned in 2018, Toronto taxpayers learned they would instead have to foot a third of the total bill, now estimated at about $300 million.
Toronto’s BMO Stadium will host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, for a total bill estimated at around $300 million by Queen City management.
Photo: Radio-Canada/Patrick Morel
And with $60 million spent per game, the unexpected economic benefits (generously estimated at $307 million for Toronto) become significantly less attractive. However, even at that time, an assessment of the costs involved in showing these matches was incomplete.
Although written in neutral, technical language, the document published by the City of Toronto in the summer of 2022 specified that federal financial obligations would not be known until the beginning of 2023, after security costs and basic expenditures were assessed. Completed by Ottawa.
These verifications were conducted last spring. According to our sources, the estimate of the federal bill ranges between 650 and 700 million dollars.
If we add this amount to the nearly $100 million in expenditures already planned by each of the other players involved (Toronto and Vancouver as well as the governments of Ontario and British Columbia), we are talking about a total bill of at least $1.1. one billion.
It’s amazing. And it may never end.
Hence, it will be interesting to see how these expenditures will be distributed among the different levels of government.
Because federal policy regarding the presentation of international events prohibits Ottawa from bearing more than 35% of the costs directly associated with the presentation of a sporting event. Furthermore, federal expenditures cannot exceed 50% of the overhead incurred in providing the international event in question.
The Minister of Sport, Carla Qualtrough, is responsible for the World Cup within the Cabinet. On the ground, it is Emmanuel Sagos (Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Sports and Major Events) who coordinates federal efforts.
She is Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough, who is leading the World Cup file within the ministerial government
Photo: (Victoria Adkins/Associated Press)
In an internal memorandum addressed to the Deputy Minister of Heritage, Isabel Mundo, in February 2023, Ms. Sagos explained that about 20 government agencies would be summoned due to the holding of the 2026 World Cup. Since no amount had yet been provided for this event, Ms. Sagos requested permission to ask the authorities. The ministries are officially responsible for developing their cost forecasts in time for April 30, 2023.
This is where things like border management and establishing a security strategy come into play. It is clear that holding the World Cup matches will require the deployment of significant security measures in the two cities. But in addition to screening matches, some national teams are expected to arrive in Canada several weeks in advance to complete their preparations. Obviously it will be necessary to ensure their safety.
Stadium modernization costs (BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place in Vancouver) will also be higher than expected. For each stadium, costs would have exceeded $200 million.
In Toronto, BMO Field does not meet the requirements FIFA In terms of reception capacity. In particular, we must add 17,756 temporary seats, with all the support structures (toilets, catering, etc.) that this entails. In Vancouver, the playing surface must be converted from artificial to natural, taking into account the fact that… FIFA Building an inn requires additional prestige.
In early 2010, BC Place was already being renovated at a cost of $563 million. This work made it possible, in particular, to provide this stadium with a retractable roof.
Last summer, the city of Seattle published the contractual agreement requiring it to FIFA To show three to eight matches of the 2026 World Cup. These matches will be held at the home ground of the American Seahawks team. NFLCavitation field. This agreement gives a good idea of the type of requirements that FIFA can be formulated, as can the speed at which costs can accrue.
In addition to transforming the playing surface from artificial to natural, FIFA Required modifications to the lighting system at Lumen Stadium in addition to updating the ventilation system, improvements to food concessions and the removal of 800 seats near the court to allow the expansion of the playing surface. The organizing committee must additionally ensure that the stadium is connected to two independent power supply systems as well as a backup system to ensure that Delay or postpone any match due to a power outage.
in seattle, FIFA The renovations are required to be completed by the summer of 2025. If the requirements are the same as for Canadian stadiums, the relevant authorities will soon have to submit budgets and carry out the necessary work.
there FIFAIt is known that it does not practice diplomacy and does not care much about the resources it extracts or monopolizes in the countries it visits. Incidentally, when the issue of the World Cup was discussed, the Federal Government had in its way men who had caused quite a stir in Parliament over the past year.
here CONCACAF Which manages the organization of the FIFA World Cup FIFA. This union is led by the same people who, when they were at the helm of Canada Soccer, concluded or championed a stunning trade agreement that emptied the union’s coffers.
Ultimately, Canadian taxpayers will foot the bill of about $110 million per game to host 10 World Cup preliminary-round matches. In the current economic context, Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough finds herself responsible for a file that is likely to become very difficult to defend in the near future.
To be convinced of this, one need only think of the discontent caused by the $5-7 million subsidy granted by the Quebec government to bring two Los Angeles Kings warm-up games at the Videotron Center in October 2024.
Invited to comment on the development of the World Cup file FIFA In 2026, Secretary Qualtrough did not respond to our request.
“Hipster-friendly tv trailblazer. Problem solver. Infuriatingly humble introvert. Reader. Student. Subtly charming bacon maven.”
More Stories
NHL Series: The Golden Knights couldn't get into a rhythm in time after 9 turnovers
Ivan Demidov will not undergo surgery
Jack Martin, away from the Senators, but not by much