Province releases new cost and revenue estimates for hosting FIFA World Cup games at BC Place

The province has released new cost and revenue estimates for hosting World Cup matches. Critics aren’t convinced the numbers add up or that the investment will

With less than a year to go until the start of World Cup 2026, the province has released new estimates on what it could cost to host seven matches at BC Place.

“We’re about the same core cost to the taxpayer as we were a year ago,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts Culture and Sport Spencer Chandra Herbert. “Security costs have gone up a little bit, but revenue has gone up as well. So, we’re still in the same ballpark.”

The range for gross hosting costs is now a low of $532 million and a high of $624 million. Estimated revenue is $448 million to $478 million. That results in an estimated net hosting cost of between $85 million and $145 million.

“If you’re spending between $85 million and $145 million in net core cost to host World Cup, and then that leads to a billion in investment in the province through increased tourism, that obviously makes sense. And I think that’s what we are doing here.” said Chandra Herbert.

But not everyone is buying it.

“I think that’s a lot of hot air and very generous interpretation from the provincial government,” said Carson Binda with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“I don’t think taxpayers are going to be left making money from this. I think this is costing us a whole boatload of money without the promised economic benefit for British Columbians who are being left with the bill,” Binda said.

The federation commissioned a poll by Leger asking British Columbians if they think hosting the World Cup games is worthwhile.

“Among those with an opinion, 55 per cent say it’s not worth hosting, compared to only 45 per cent that think it is worth the cost. That’s a ten-point difference. In the world of public opinion research and political polling, that’s a huge gap,” said Binda.

He insists it’s not too late for the province to back out.

“I think Premier David Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim need to do the right thing and pull the plug on Vancouver hosting these seven soccer games,” Binda said.

But the Province has told FIFA that Vancouver is eager to host even more matches.

“Why can’t we host eight or nine or 10?” said Chandra Herbert. “We made that offer. If there are other cities hosting World Cup who aren’t able to host as many matches or they’re not able to do what they said they’d do, we said to the World Cup, ‘We are here, we are happy to host more.’”

As the months tick down to the start of the tournament, there are concerns costs could balloon even more.

“Already, this is costing British Columbians about $1 million per minute of playtime,” said Binda. “I’m deeply, deeply worried that in the coming months, as we grow closer to kick off, we’re going to see these costs continue to escalate.”

But the province and the city believe the cost and revenue estimates released Tuesday are realistic, and they are full steam ahead on welcoming the world next June.