Goal vs. Going Out: New PayPal Poll Shows 44% of Canadians Surveyed Would Sideline Everyday Spending for Summer Soccer
As this summer’s big game arrives on home soil, new research commissioned by PayPal shows Canadian fans are balancing the excitement of a once-in-a-lifetime event with a cautious approach to spending. A national survey of 1,043 Canadian adults conducted June 3–5, 2026 found that nearly half (44%) of respondents would reduce discretionary spending in other areas to attend matches or enjoy tournament-related experiences. The findings highlight the growing importance Canadians place on memorable, shared experiences, and the role of digital payments in helping them plan, pay and participate with confidence.
Canada isn't just hosting the big tournament, it's living it. Those who consider themselves fans are willing to make real trade-offs to be part of it. While more than half of all Canadian adults (56%) surveyed say attending wouldn't require any budgetary changes, that drops to just one in five (21%) among soccer fan Gen Zer’s, meaning many young fans are actively reshuffling their budgets.
PayPal's poll found the biggest trade-offs aren't big-ticket luxuries, but rituals fans are willing to pause for the tournament:
