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National Post

Carson Binda: Canadian taxpayers on hook for FIFA tournament expenses

You'd better be prepared to pony up when FIFA comes to Vancouver and Toronto next summer for the World Cup, because it's leaving taxpayers with a massive bill. Article content FIFA is bringing the 2026 Men's World Cup to Canada, the United States and Mexico. Article content Article content Of the 104 games that will make up the tournament, 13 will be played in Canada. Vancouver is set to host seven, with the remaining six Canadian games slated for Toronto. Article content Article content Article content Taxpayers may be on the hook for more than a billion dollars. Article content The Vancouver leg of the tournament could set taxpayers back up to $624 million, while in Toronto, the costs are pegged at up to $380 million. Article content Even after factoring in projected revenues, Vancouver's games are expected to come at a net cost to the taxpayer of $85-$145 million, according to the B.C. Government's own generous projections. Ontario hasn't been transparent enough with taxpayers to provide those kinds of net cost breakdowns. Article content And even if you don't live in British Columbia or Ontario, your tax dollars are still bankrolling the tournament. Article content The federal government is also getting in on the action, subsidizing the games to the tune of $220 million. Article content The federal government is giving Vancouver $116 million to help pay for the tournament. It's also shelling out over $104 million to Toronto to offset costs for things like fan festivals and police motorcades for FIFA delegations. Article content Article content All three levels of government are spending money on these soccer games. The federal government is giving cash to the municipalities as a grant. Most of the provincial money is being spent on provincial services for the games, like stadium renovations in B.C. and provincial police officers in Ontario. Article content Article content Here's the real kicker: most British Columbia and Ontario taxpayers don't even want to host the World Cup. Article content How the money going to these games is being spent should raise eyebrows. FIFA bigwigs are demanding preferential treatment, funded by taxpayers. Article content FIFA's contract with Vancouver demands the 'VIP/VVIP,' treatment from taxpayers, for any 'individuals nominated by FIFA.' Those very and very, very important people will be met at the gate and taken to 'special' immigration, customs and security screening points. They will have access to exclusive waiting rooms, special luggage collection and even VIP parking, according to the contracts signed with Vancouver and Toronto.