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≡ MAJOR WORLD CUP SPENDING ≡
In response to inquiries from members of the Canadian Parliament, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer [PBO] published Wednesday a stunning report:
“Based on the most recent information, PBO estimates total government support to co-host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to be $1,066 million, of which federal support will be $473 million, with the remainder of $593 million funded by other levels of government.
“Because Canada will be hosting 13 games, the estimated cost per game is $82 million. This amount is aligned to past public spending to host World Cup events.”
A Canadian dollar is worth $0.73 U.S. today, so the C$1.066 billion is U.S. $775.52 million, for 13 matches, in Toronto and Vancouver. The C$82 million – about $59.6 million U.S. – per match average was characterized as “it appears Canada’s costs are roughly in line” with spending by prior organizers, in table that showed incredible inflation in hosting in this century (amounts in U.S. dollars):
● 1998: $16.0 million average per match in France
● 2002: $81.5 million average in Japan and South Korea
● 2006: $36.8 million average in Germany
● 2010: $73.7 million average in South Africa
● 2014: $90.9 million average in Brazil
● 2018: $79.6 million average in Russia
● 2022: no data for Qatar
● 2026: $59.6 million average for Canada
Canadian spending was detailed as split between Federal costs and all other levels of government (in Canadian dollars; C$1 = U.S. $0.73):
● Toronto federal: C$149.3 million
● Toronto other govt.: C$230.6 million
● Toronto total: $C$380.0 million (rounding)
● Vancouver federal: C$215.7 million
● Vancouver other govt.: C$362.3 million
● Vancouver total: C$578.0 million
● All other federal spending: C$108.2 million
The comments to the tables noted:
● “Net of the $220 million and $145 million federal transfers, this would imply a remaining cost of approximately $231 million for Toronto and $362 million for Vancouver. However, updates to municipal and provincial spending plans may be announced in the coming weeks, implying changes to the expected costs for other levels of government.”
● “The majority of funding allocated to the FIFA World Cup under [Federal] Budget 2025 and the 2026 Spring Economic Update is for security-related items.”
Of the Federal allocation of C$473.2 million, security support on various forms came from Public Safety Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Security Agency, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and the Canadian Food Security Agency totaling C$236.6 million or 50.0%.
Of the remaining C$236.6 million, C$220.0 million – 97.0% was from Canadian Heritage, for event delivery costs in operations and infrastructure, especially stadium improvements and team training sites.
With three weeks to go before the FIFA World Cup kicks off, that’s what Canada has spent to get just two stadia ready for a total of 13 matches to be held over about four weeks. It’s the clearest picture available so far of local World Cup spending, as the costs for U.S. cities are borne primarily by the local host committees, with $625 million in security costs provided by the U.S. government. A similar report to the Canadian one has not yet been seen from Mexico.
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