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Toronto and Ontario Deadlocked Over $39 Million FIFA World Cup 2026 Funding Gap

With 13 months until the first match, the city and province refuse to budge on their financial commitments, leaving critical costs unresolved.

Jonathan Osorio, left to right, and Mark-Anthony Kaye, from Toronto FC and Canada’s national team, chats with a youth member during a media unveiling of the official brand and new #WeAre26 awareness campaign for FIFA World Cup 2026, at BMO Field in Toronto, the host city, on May 18, 2023.
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Overview

  • Toronto's hosting of six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches is projected to cost $380 million, with the city, province, and federal government sharing expenses.
  • The federal government has committed $104 million, while Ontario has pledged $97 million, including $39 million already allocated to provincial services like policing, health care, and transit.
  • Mayor Olivia Chow has capped Toronto's contribution at $178.7 million, stating the city cannot allocate additional funds to cover the shortfall.
  • Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy reaffirmed the province's $97 million limit, rejecting calls to increase its contribution for unbudgeted service costs.
  • With no resolution to the funding gap, Toronto officials have hinted at scaling back commitments for the June 2026 matches if additional funding is not secured.