How much will the World Cup cost Vancouver? We still don't know, one year out
The countdown is on for both the World Cup, and the release of the final financial projections of just how much it will cost.
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Wednesday afternoon at Terry Fox Plaza outside of B.C. Place, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani and a host of other dignitaries took part in the unveiling of a giant digital clock that is ticking down to the start of the 2026 World Cup. An energetic, upbeat event where local youth teams playing a seven-a-side game — while being coached by Canada soccer veterans Tosaint Ricketts and Christine Sinclair — set what the organizers hoped was an energetic and positive tone.
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But the clock is also ticking on the region's patience to find out just how much taxpayers will be paying to host the massive sporting event, one that is on par with the Olympic Games in terms of global reach and prestige. Mayor Sim called it the 'equivalent of 30 to 40 Super Bowls.'
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The cost of the event has doubled from the initial numbers; the last report had the price tag for the province between $483 million and $581 million, with the City of Vancouver expected to pay at least $230M.
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'We'll have a full costing of where we're at in terms of cost, in terms of revenue, closer to the end of June, and we'll share it publicly at that point. We're just finishing up a couple of the accounting things,' said Spencer Chandra Herbert, B.C.'s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
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Toronto has been more forthcoming with their numbers, saying it will fall $40M short in its already ballooning $380M budget for their portion of the event. Vancouver has yet to address the updated financials publicly.
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'Look, we're bound by confidentiality agreements,' said Mayor Sim. 'That's just part of the process. What I can tell you is, we've had great lenses on it. This is actually a great event where the city, the residents of the City of Vancouver and the region and the province and the country will benefit.
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'Let's put this in perspective. There are cities around the planet that would absolutely love this opportunity. We have this opportunity in the City of Vancouver. We're making sure it's held from a fiscally responsible perspective. And we're super excited to have this opportunity.'
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Vancouver will host seven games of the 2026 World Cup at B.C. Place, with Toronto getting six. Canada will play two games in Vancouver, and should Les Rouges advance out of their round robin group, would potentially play in the two knockout round games at B.C. Place.
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