FIFA is expected to generate between $11 billion and $13 billion from the 2026 World Cup. The cities actually hosting the tournament, meanwhile, are scrambling to cover bills that run into the hundreds of millions each.
The tab nobody wanted to talk about
The US federal government has allocated $625 million in security grants spread across 11 host cities. Local expenditures per city are estimated to land somewhere between $100 million and $200 million. That covers everything from stadium upgrades and transportation logistics to policing and emergency services.
Toronto’s projected costs sit around $380 million CAD, while Vancouver’s estimates range between $578 million and $624 million CAD. Combined Canadian host city costs are expected to exceed $1 billion CAD.
One particularly telling example: New Jersey Transit faces a $48 million bill just for transporting fans to and from venues. That single line item has prompted calls for FIFA to directly cover transportation costs, a request that, so far, hasn’t gained much traction with the governing body.
