Hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver could cost up to $624M, says B.C. government

With less than a year to go until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, B.C. organizers have increased their cost estimates to host seven matches in Vancouver to between $532 million and $624 million.

Those numbers are up from last year when the province, City of Vancouver and PavCo, the Crown corporation that owns B.C. Place stadium, estimated the gross core cost at between $483 million and $581 million for city and provincial services, as well as upgrades to B.C. Place. 

As plans developed, particularly around safety, security and transportation, the estimates rose, the province said on Tuesday.

It went on to say costs are expected to be offset by $448 million to $478 million in estimated revenues and recoveries, which are higher than 2024 estimates. 

The original cost, released by the provincial government at the end of January 2023, pegged the bill for hosting five World Cup games at $230 million, with much of that money going toward event security.

The January 2023 estimate was based on expectations that Vancouver would host five games. The 2024 and 2025 estimates came after FIFA — soccer's international governing body — confirmed the city will host seven games.

The province said it estimates the matches will lead to more than one million additional out-of-province visitors between 2026 and 2031, generating more than $1 billion in additional visitor spending.

 "Welcoming fans and visitors from around the globe before, during and after the tournament means real benefits for local tourism businesses and the skilled professionals who power our vibrant industry," Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., said in the province's statement. 

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said in the statement that the city's direct costs — including security, transportation, and a fan festival — "remain on track, with no major changes from 2024's budget projections."

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which describes itself as a non-profit citizen's group dedicated to lower taxes, criticized the spending, saying the province and City of Vancouver should be focused on saving taxpayer dollars rather than hosting a large sporting event.

The federation cited 2019 research out of Germany published in a peer-reviewed journal that found "hosting the FIFA World Cup is overall ineffective in tourism promotion."

Vancouver and Toronto are the two Canadian cities hosting 2026 World Cup games, alongside 11 cities in the U.S. and three in Mexico.