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Projected costs and revenues associated with the seven FIFA World Cup games at Vancouver’s B.C. Place have both increased, according to the latest figures from the province.
The price tag for the event is now projected between $685 million and $729 million, up from the $532 million to $624 million estimated last year.
The increase is mainly due to a more complete safety and security plan and updated estimates for the FIFA Fan Festival at Hastings Park, the government said.
The upper-end cost projection of $729 million breaks down to an average cost of $104 million per game.
Projected revenues from the tournament have also increased to between $595 million and $615 million, up from a projected $448 million to $478 million a year ago.
Included in the province’s revenue calculation is $216 million in contributions from the federal government.
When asked if categorizing taxpayer funds from Ottawa as a revenue stream was misleading, B.C. Tourism Minister Anne Kang responded:
“This is going to be a contribution from all taxpayers across Canada. Canada is supporting Toronto and B.C. with our games. We are going to be making revenues with our partners at the City of Vancouver.”
Kang said 80 per cent of projected revenues have already been realized.
According to the updated figures, the net cost to B.C. taxpayers for the tournament will be between $90 million and $114 million, representing a change from the government’s June 2025 estimate of between $85 million and $145 million.
Security costly
Security and safety are the biggest expense at $242 million, a figure that could change depending on the security demands of the teams who qualify for the Round of 32 and Round of 16 knockout matches in Vancouver.
Another major expense is upgrading and operating B.C. Place, projected at $178 million to $185 million. Kang said B.C. Place renovations have been completed on time and on budget.
Hotel Tax
The Major Events and Municipal and Regional District Tax — more commonly known as the hotel tax — is projected to be a significant revenue generator at between $250 and $260 million.
The tax came into effect in February 2023 in the form of a 2.5 per cent levy on the cost of hotel rooms in the City of Vancouver.
FIFA 2026 World Cup security fencing is pictured around B.C. Place in Vancouver, on Friday May 29, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/CBC)
Multiple sources have reported sluggish hotel bookings during the World Cup period — down as much as 20 per cent compared to last year — which would negatively impact the collection of the tax.
However, new data indicates bookings are picking up, according to the government.
“We’re not concerned at this point and the reason why is that we’ve seen this last week, thanks to media reporting that there are hotel rooms available, a 14 per cent increase in hotel room bookings,” said Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs and economic growth.
The hotel tax is set to expire in 2030 and would need provincial government approval to be extended beyond that date, according to officials.
WATCH | Vancouver FIFA budget update:
B.C. officials reveal estimated total costs of hosting FIFA World Cup
B.C.’s ministers of sport and economic growth give an update on the cost and revenue projections of hosting the FIFA World Cup in Vancouver.
Organizers say the World Cup will deliver a $1-billion boost to B.C.’s GDP over the next five years.
“That’s not a hypothetical,” said Kahlon. “Whether it’s $900 million, or whether it’s $1.1 billion, we are going to see that.”
A government official said a final accounting of World Cup costs and revenues is expected next spring.
The first match at B.C. Place is June 13 between Turkey and Australia.