FIFA needs $1 billion from taxpayers
John Tory’s expensive kiss-off good-bye
The fact that Canada’s FIFA World Cup spending will total $82 million per game taxpayer subsidies is a travesty.
The deal negotiated in the sunset of John Tory’s mayoralty career reminds me of the 1976 Montreal Olympics – “The Olympics can no more lose money than a man can have a baby,” Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau said in 1973.
Welcome to 2026. Apparently, men can have babies, and the world’s most popular tournament of the world’s most popular sport cannot support its own event, but needs more than $1 billion from beleaguered Canadian taxpayers to operate.
The deal negotiated in the sunset weeks of John Tory’s mayoralty career reminds me of the 1976 Montreal Olympics – “The Olympics can no more lose money than a man can have a baby,” Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau famously stated in 1973.
This year from June 11 to July 19, Canada will co-host the FIFA Men’s World Cup with the United States and Mexico. The World Cup will include 104 games with 7 games to be played in Vancouver and 6 games to be played in Toronto.
“Based on the most recent information, PBO estimates total government support to co-host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to be $1,066 million, of which federal support will be $473 million, with the remainder of $593 million funded by other levels of government,” reads today’s report from Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Office.
“Because Canada will be hosting 13 games, the estimated cost per game is $82 million. This amount is aligned to past public spending to host World Cup events.
“Across all levels of government, Canadian spending on the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is expected to be $1,066 million, with $473 million in funding coming from the federal government and the remainder being provided by other levels of government.”
It’s bleak enough to consider that taxpayers are on the hook for FIFA spending. The public relations scenario for Toronto becomes even bleaker if you talk to businesses who should be ecstatic about the money which will be spent with them. Some report that planning is wobbly and payment is not prompt; suppliers may scale back their commitments at the worst possible time for the city.
Will Toronto’s FIFA 2026 become the next Montreal Olympics?
If so, Toronto will have John Tory to thank.
