Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
With kickoff of the first of seven men’s FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at B.C. Place only two weeks away, the British Columbia government will finally release an updated budget for the games.
The reveal is set for Friday, 11:30 a.m. PT, at a media availability with Tourism Minister Ann Kang, and Ravi Kahlon, minister of jobs and economic growth.
Ever since the province and the city agreed to support Vancouver’s bid to become one of the 16 North American host cities for the tournament, cost estimates have only gone up.
In January 2023, the price tag for hosting five games was announced at $230 million, about $46 million per game.
In 2024, after Vancouver was awarded seven games, the top end of the cost estimate was pegged at $581 million, or about $83 million per game.
In June 2025, organizers revised that figure to $624 million, equal to $89 million per game.
Concordia University sports economist Moshe Lander said he expects the upward trend to continue when the newest estimate is released. But even then, he said, the numbers will likely underestimate what could ultimately be a shocking final price tag once FIFA has packed up and left town.
Concordia University sports economist Moshe Lander says he wouldn’t be surprised if the cost of staging seven World Cup games in Vancouver reaches $1 billion on final accounting. (CBC)
“I would not be surprised if this thing is kissing a billion dollars when this is all said and done,” he said. “What we’ll see [on Friday] are interim numbers. The real bill is going to come after the games are done when all of the invoices are coming in.”
Security costs are expected to eat up the largest share of Vancouver’s FIFA budget.
On that front, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics may serve as a cautionary tale. There, the original security cost estimate of $175 million ended up ballooning more than five fold to $900 million once all the bills were paid.
Lander said providing accurate cost estimates of Vancouver’s World Cup participation is impossible because it’s FIFA who calls the shots on security an in all facets of staging the games, while governments write the cheques.
“FIFA can just keep making demands all the way up to game time,” he said.
Premier David Eby, centre, and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, right, at an event prior to the men’s FIFA World Cup 2026 in Vancouver on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Lander also believes it doesn’t help taxpayers that politicians who promote events like the World Cup and Olympics as money makers — a position he says isn’t supported by evidence — often get caught up in the hype.
“The World Cup and Olympics are the ultimate when it comes to political ego and vanity plays,” he said.
“The politicians will always go to taxpayers and say it’s not nearly going to be as expensive as you think. There’s a certain level of arrogance that goes with it too, in that every politician who says it ultimately gets proven wrong.”
On Thursday, B.C. Premier David Eby was the target of fresh criticism over releasing updated FIFA costs on a Friday, one day after the legislature adjourned for the summer.
“I think that’s deceitful, I think it’s shameful, and I think it’s absolute abdication of leadership,” said B.C. Conservative interim leader Trevor Halford.