Funding may need to be scaled back for the six 2026 FIFA World Cup matches set to take place in Toronto next June, as financial discussions between the city and the Ontario government continue, Mayor Olivia Chow says.
A May 20 report from Toronto’s World Cup Secretariat to city council indicates the expenses associated with public transport, law enforcement, and health-care services, among other areas, have risen to nearly $40 million overall—suggesting a substantial amount of the money Ontario promised to the city will be eaten up by existing commitments.
The City of Toronto estimated in 2024 it would cost roughly $380 million to host the World Cup tournament. The federal government committed to contribute $104 million in May 2024 to support the city’s efforts to host the tournament, while the province agreed to commit $97 million, and the city would be responsible for the remaining funding of approximately $178 million….