Eby government withholds updated FIFA spending figures ahead of tournament

Government support for Canada’s role in hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is estimated at $1.066 billion, while British Columbia’s NDP government has delayed releasing updated costs for Vancouver’s share until after the spring legislative session ends.

A Parliamentary Budget Officer report estimates federal support at $473 million, with provincial and municipal governments covering another $593 million. Across 13 Canadian matches, that works out to roughly $82 million per game.

For BC, projections hover around $578 million for seven games at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. That is far above the province’s 2022 estimate of $240 million to $260 million.

Premier David Eby has said the province will release updated figures by the end of the month, after the legislature’s spring session ends May 28. The tournament begins June 11.

Eby has defended the spending by pointing to projected economic benefits, claiming the event will generate more than $1 billion for BC’s economy. But his government has not yet released an updated detailed cost estimate, citing ongoing talks with Ottawa over security funding and final arrangements with stakeholders.

(Courtesy Angus Reid)

The delay leaves taxpayers without a full accounting of the province’s FIFA obligations only weeks before the tournament begins.

The issue is politically awkward for Eby, who previously criticized the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics while serving as executive director of the BC Civil Liberties Association. At the time, he raised concerns about civil liberties, security measures, displacement of vulnerable people, free expression, and the costs of hosting major international events.

Now, as premier, Eby is defending another major international sporting event despite escalating cost projections and unresolved questions around security, operations, and possible overruns.

Toronto is also facing a steep increase. The city is expected to spend about $380 million to host six games, compared with earlier estimates of $30 million to $45 million in 2018. Ontario is also spending $97 million toward Toronto’s matches.

Polling from Leger cited in the provided material suggests many Ontarians and British Columbians are skeptical of the spending, with half of Ontarians opposed to hundreds of millions in World Cup costs and 50 percent of British Columbians opposed to spending more than $500 million.

Until the province releases its updated numbers, British Columbians are being asked to accept the promise of economic benefit without a clear final bill.