World Cup Heads to North America – Toronto's Big Economic Bet

Financial Overview - FIFA anticipates approximately $11 billion in revenue from the 2026 World Cup, primarily through broadcast deals, ticket packages, and sponsorships [1][14] - Toronto's budget for hosting the World Cup is $380 million, funded by federal, provincial, and city governments [3] - Toronto expects $686 million in positive economic output from hosting the World Cup [19] - Canada anticipates a $2 billion increase to its GDP and $38 billion to $4 billion in positive economic output due to the World Cup [21] Infrastructure and Stadium Upgrades - FIFA requires a stadium capacity of at least 45,500; BMO Field in Toronto will be upgraded from 30,000 seats [5] - Toronto is building temporary seating for 17,000 (10,000 on the north end and 7,000 on the south end) at BMO Field, including permanent hospitality suites [6] FIFA's Requirements and Impact - FIFA requires host countries to provide tax exemptions, security, public transport, and infrastructure support [8] - FIFA takes over external advertising spaces, renaming venues like BMO Field to Toronto Stadium [8] - FIFA reinvests approximately 90% of its revenue into soccer development worldwide [18] Economic Concerns and Benefits - There are concerns that World Cup tourists may displace regular tourists, potentially harming long-term tourism revenue [23][24] - FIFA's tax exemption requirements for fan fests and ticket sales could lead to revenue loss for host cities [25][26][27] - The Canadian federal government is investing $220 million between Toronto and Vancouver to ensure the games are world class [20]