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.
But with nearly $40 million of the province’s $97 million contribution already allocated to services, that leaves a significant shortfall, the report said.
Among the estimated provincial service costs listed in the report were $15 million for hospital expenses, $14 million for the Ontario Provincial Police, and $6.6 million for public transportation expenses associated with the event.
The city is unable to cover any expenses beyond the $178 million it was initially responsible for, Chow said in a May 21 press conference, adding that it is unable to offset the expenses that would be deducted from the provincial contribution.
“So we will have to either find $40 million somewhere, I’m not sure where, or we will have to cut the budget by $40 million,” Chow said. “There’s no other way.”
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy says Ontario will support the city in its efforts to host the World Cup as promised but will not increase its share of the funding.
“No more than the $97 million. We were clear up front, I’m clear today,” Bethlenfalvy told the press on May 21 when asked whether the province’s commitment would remain at $97 million.
The Epoch Times contacted Ontario’s ministry of sport to ask whether the province had communicated to the city that its contribution would include provincial services such as those outlined in the report.
“Our position has been clear from the outset, our $97 million commitment includes funding for provincial services. This has been consistently communicated to the City’s FIFA Secretariat and should not come as a surprise,” Press Secretary Wesley Austin said in a May 22 email.
The province confirmed its conditional commitment of “up to $97 million” to support Toronto’s hosting efforts in a letter to Toronto City Manager Paul Johnson in December 2023. The letter said Ontario would not guarantee any deficit funding for the event and that its contribution would “be inclusive of any provincial services, like policing, transportation, and health care, required to meet the City of Toronto’s contractual obligations with FIFA.”
The Epoch Times also contacted the City of Toronto to inquire about updates on budget discussions between the city and the province. A spokesperson said funding for the event will be discussed at city council in the coming days.
“The City is committed to working with its provincial and federal partners to secure the necessary funding to host this major event responsibly,” Sharon Bollenbach, Executive Director of the FIFA World Cup 26 Toronto Secretariat, said in a May 22 statement to The Epoch Times.
“A full report on the status of intergovernmental funding will be provided to City Council at this week’s meeting. We look forward to sharing updates with residents and continuing to plan for a safe, inclusive and exciting tournament.”
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
