British Columbia Now Expects Vancouver World Cup to Cost C$685M to C$729M
British Columbia has raised its estimate for hosting seven World Cup matches in Vancouver to between C$685 million and C$729 million, up from C$532 million to C$624 million a year ago. The province says higher projected revenues mean the net cost will be about C$31 million lower than forecast last June. BC Place upgrades and security drove the increase.
B ritish Columbia now expects hosting the FIFA World Cup in Vancouver to cost between C$685 million and C$729 million, up from the C$532 million to C$624 million it projected a year ago. The updated figures came on Friday from Tourism Minister Anne Kang and Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon, who briefed taxpayers on the cost, revenue and economic impact of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19.
Where the increase comes from
The province said most of the rise in gross core and essential costs has come from upgrades to BC Place and from security. It noted that when the first projection was published in June 2025, many details were still unsettled, including FIFA's requirements, which countries would play in Vancouver, plans for the FIFA Fan Festival on the PNE grounds, and safety and security planning.
Higher revenues offset the cost
Updated revenue and recovery projections have also risen, to between C$595 million and C$615 million, up from C$448 million to C$478 million in June 2025. Offsets include federal funding for safety and security, revenue from the Fan Festival, contributions from Sport Canada, and money raised through the major-event Municipal and Regional District Tax program, which the province says will be driven by visitors before, during and after the tournament. Because those projected revenues, recoveries and contributions are now much higher, the province estimates the net core and essential hosting cost will be about C$31 million lower than it forecast last June.
A dispute over the federal estimate
The update follows a report last week from Canada's parliamentary budget officer, which estimated it would cost C$578 million to host the seven men's World Cup matches in Vancouver. Kang said that report relied on outdated data and did not account for the positive impact of revenues and recoveries.
What Vancouver is hosting
Vancouver will stage seven matches, including two Canada group games and two knockout-round fixtures. Canada face Qatar at BC Place on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24, before the venue hosts a round-of-32 tie on July 2 and a round-of-16 tie on July 7.
Reporting: Amy Judd, Global News, and the Government of British Columbia, May 29, 2026. Figures are in Canadian dollars.