Security for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup cost Canadian taxpayers more than $231 million, making it one of the largest federal expenses tied to hosting the international soccer tournament, according to documents tabled before the Senate.
The rich made out like bandits I’m sure.
Toronto sold barely a third of its premium FIFA Fan Fest Tickets, early data shows, potentially damaging a plan it launched to help manage escalating costs during the 2026 World Cup.
The Fan Fest events were held from June 11 to July 19 at Fort York Historic Site and The Bentway, screening soccer matches and hosting performances from bands and DJs.
Visitors to Canada who applied for visas to attend the FIFA World Cup have so far lodged 175 asylum claims, including from Senegal, Ghana and Egypt.
Canada played host to 13 games in Toronto and Vancouver in June and July, issuing 26,000 visas to visitors. Spain won the international tournament on Sunday by defeating the previous reigning champion, Argentina.
Just the start of total losses incurred.
For the time being, the city prefers to discuss the chasing of dreams rather than the chasing of dollars.
With the World Cup coming to an end following Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina on Sunday, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow discussed the local portion of the tournament.
“The most important thing now is to make sure we build on that momentum, from the investments in soccer facilities and youth programming to the lasting benefits of our communities and local businesses,” Chow told reporters at a Monday news conference.
How much of a loss will tax payers be made to pay for?
Jan Maracewicz says he wanted to express his frustrations about the exorbitant costs of the World Cup this year. As he was carrying a sign at Exhibition Place commenting on FIFA’s “greed,” the retiree was arrested and charged with trespassing.
“I think I had the right to express my opinion. It wasn’t vulgar, it was peaceful, it wasn’t inciting any violence,” Maracewicz told CTV News Toronto in an interview.
FIFA is a scam.
This is the last game to be played in Toronto.
Try to keep the noise down folks.
The World Cup has been a bit of a miss for Toronto hotels. For other parts of the economy? It’s no Taylor Swift.
According to data released this week by payments processing giant Moneris, spending by international tourists in the Toronto area has been up in several key categories since the World Cup kicked off, but total spending by locals, domestic tourists and international tourist, has only been marginally higher than the rate of inflation.
No Taylor Swift will eventually be revealed as BIG Fat Tab for the taxpayer to pay.
Bonus tax payer loss … Cristiano Ronaldo fans block busy Toronto highway for a glimpse of World Cup Portugal team bus
The sixth and final of Toronto’s World Cup matches will be played on Thursday night, and, my heavens, it is a doozy.
Portugal versus Croatia, a pair of European heavyweights, featuring some of the biggest stars in the sport.
Canada won 1 to 0.
If Canada loses its White players will be slain by SA’s Winnie Mandela Memorial Brigade in the spirit of reparations.
Hosting the World Cup hasn’t exactly been a windfall for Toronto-area hotels.
According to data compiled for the Greater Toronto Hotel Association, the percentage of GTA hotel rooms occupied during the first two weeks of the world’s biggest sporting event is down substantially compared to the same period last year, raising questions about the economic value of hosting.
In the week ending June 13 — which included Canada’s tournament opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina — the overall occupancy rate for area hotels dipped to 82 per cent, down from 83 per cent in the same period last year.
It doesn’t help that Toronto is known as a 3rd World Dumpster Fire.
Late evening at the Peace Arch border crossing between Blaine, Wash., and Surrey, B.C., this week brought a flush of pink to the sky and a panorama of flashing green to the Canadian border, each light marking an open lane − eight in total.
Two cars pulled up and quickly made their way through. Most of the lanes stood empty.
The World Cup a bust? No problem! Canadian tax payers are footing the bill.
Jeff Ripley of Spokane, Wash., doesn’t mince words when asked how he feels about StubHub after the online resale site failed to deliver his $4,600 US tickets for a World Cup match last week.
“I think they’re a f–king con. Excuse me,” he said in a phone call with CBC News.
He and his wife bought three tickets back in December for a U.S. match in Seattle slated for June 19. They were excited for their son to fly in to join them.
Carney probably needed those tickets for his pals.
A win or a draw against the Swiss today will clinch top place in the group for the Canadians and a Round of 32 match in Vancouver.
Canada will still advance into the Round of 32 losing homefield advantage.
Kelly Mongillo of Barrie, Ont., began frantically calling StubHub customer service in April to ask for assurances that her World Cup tickets were still valid.
Mongillo paid StubHub, a scalper resale website, $1,700 Cdn in August 2025 for two tickets, figuring she was getting a deal for a game in New Jersey on June 13. She grew up watching World Cup soccer with her father, Larry, and was planning the trip of a lifetime with the 72-year-old to watch Brazil play Morocco.
I don't want to be a buzzkill — we all have enough negativity as it is, after all — but this is just down the street from the World Cup celebration on Granville in Vancouver. I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't share it. People need to see this. pic.twitter.com/PHG5ogImq9
— Alexander Zoltan (@AmazingZoltan) June 19, 2026
