Toronto hosting the FIFA World Cup is a ‘once-in-a-generation-opportunity.' Here's why
The countdown has begun.
Toronto will host the first ever FIFA World Cup game on Canadian soil exactly one year from today on June 12, 2026.
It will be one of six World Cup matches slated for the city – including a round of 32 match - with Vancouver set to host another seven matches.
An expanded BMO Field will be temporarily rebranded as Toronto Stadium for the occasion, in keeping with a FIFA policy.
And fans can expect a host of other events around the city, including an official fan festival.
'This is just enormous. Ever since FIFA awarded the World Cup to Canada, (the United States) and Mexico back in 2018—seems so long ago, really—we've never been more excited in anticipation, as this is one of the world's largest sporting events,' Ontario Soccer CEO Johnny Misley told CTV News Toronto in an interview. 'We're preparing behind the scenes to take full advantage of this. It really is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.'
Here is what you need to know about the FIFA World Cup and what it could mean for the city:
The economic impact of the 2026 World Cup—both in how much it costs, and how much it'll bring in
Toronto is looking at a hefty bill to host the tournament next year, as it is projected to cost around $380 million to hold the six games here. The federal government is putting up $104.3 million to help cover the costs with the provincial government providing around $97 million—meaning Toronto is on the hook to front around half that tab, at $178.7 million.
The city had hoped the province would contribute money toward tournament expenses but a report prepared by city staff recently revealed that nearly half ot of the province's contribution comes in the form of services it is providing, like health care, policing and transportation. The latest estimate for those services—still in negotiation—cost around $39 million leaving less cash than expected to offset city expenses. That said, Mayor Olivia Chow tabled a motion, approved by council, directing the city manager to curb World Cup expenses to around $340 million until the city has found savings or secured enough money (through intergovernmental funding or other revenue sources) to front the full $380 million budget.
While hosting the tournament comes with a hefty price tag, the World Cup is also expected to generate considerable revenue for Toronto's economy.
The city says the major sporting event is expected to generate serious cultural and economic benefits, from tourism growth to job creation. Last December, Deloitte Canada released an economic impact assessment estimating the World Cup could generate up to $940 million for the Greater Toronto Area's economy. Broken down, $520 million is projected to come in GDP growth, $340 million from labour income and $25 million from government revenue. It is also forecast to bring more than 6,600 jobs until 2026.
'If you look at the impact of past World Cups, I think those numbers seem very reasonable,' Daniel Tisch, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce told CTV News Toronto.
With the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, held nearly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, FIFA reported selling around 3.18 million tickets across the tournament's 64 matches. The organization said it generated US$686 million in revenue from ticket sales, with average attendance rate hovering around 96.3 per cent.
Outside of an injection of revenue into the local economy, there will also likely be some long-term impacts for Toronto too—a 'lasting legacy,' as Tisch describes it. BMO Field, as an example, is receiving a $146 million makeover to boost capacity and 'enhance stadium infrastructure, technology and overall appeal.'
'If you look at something like the Ontario Line that's being built right now or upgrades to Pearson Airport (…) the lasting legacy includes better infrastructure, it includes a stronger global brand that will have a long-term benefit for tourism and repeat business because people want to come back to somewhere where they've had a great experience,' Tisch adds.
What could the next World Cup be like for tourists and locals in Toronto?
Building on that lasting legacy, Destination Toronto's Andrew Weir says the FIFA World Cup will also have a long-lasting impact on the city.
'This has a significant long tail, this event, because the profile and reputation lift that Toronto experiences when you host these global mega events is significant and that stimulates more travel demand for the future,' Weir told CTV News Toronto.
With millions of soccer fans tuning into World Cup games in Toronto, Weir says the televised broadcasts will provide that 'perfect destination postcard shot,' capturing part of what the city hast to offer for out-of-towners.
'Think about that (overhead) shot from BMO Field with the entire downtown core, the Princess Gates at Exhibition Place, the whole downtown core, the lake, the islands,' Weir said.
The tourism company's president also noted Toronto's vibrancy as playing a factor for drawing fans in to watch the game. Already there is a FIFA Fan Festival announced, where music, food and live broadcasts of the game will take over Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway. The city said the goal is to deliver an 'outstanding' host city experience to showcase all Toronto hast to offer, adding it remains 'open to hosting major international events' aligned with the city's goals.
'I've always said Toronto is the place you want to be for a World Cup because whatever team is playing, or whatever two teams are playing, there's an energy around that game because there's a community here to celebrate those teams,' Weir said. 'You can move around the city and go experience any (…) matches at restaurants and bars with that community—there's not a lot of cities you can experience that.'
Torontonians may be concerned about the influx of tourists clogging up their roadways—the city's FIFA secretariat is even proposing restricting traffic in the neighbourhoods surrounding BMO Field—Weir says he hopes locals take advantage of the momentous occasion.
'When we've had celebrations in the past, when Taylor Swift was here, when the Pan-Am Games were here, it may cause come inconveniences because of either traffic rerouting or street closures, but that's part of why we live in a big city—because we want to be where big things happen,' Weir said.
Local soccer leagues hope for boost with Toronto FIFA World Cup
Holding the World Cup in Toronto will act as 'catalyst' in boosting numbers for local soccer leagues—at least that's what the president of Toronto Soccer Association hopes.
'It's going to represent the pinnacle of what's possible in our own backyard. I'm hoping that there's going to be a surge in interest after this because our clubs—our community clubs—they deserve this,' Ross Cannone told CTV News Toronto.
'Like all sporting events that happen—like the Olympics or if we win the World Series—it always helps the sport that it belongs to, and we're hoping this pushes us back because we lost a lot of numbers after COVID.'
Ontario Soccer, meanwhile, has launched a years-long campaign to take full advantage of the excitement expected to be generated by the World Cup.
'We impact a million households in Ontario, 500,000 players play the game in this province, I every community, so we wanted to make sure that we get people excited this year and do a number of activities to get them sort of focused,' Misley said, adding there are two main objectives to get people into the ball game.
'One is to engage Ontarians in every community and second is to really celebrate the culture of the sport, which can mean viewing parties, it can mean playing, wearing your favourite colours even, participating in local homes and barbecues and restaurants and doing parties (…) all around the province.'
With files from CTV News Toronto's Laura Sebben
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
40 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
House approves Bill C-5 to fast-track projects, Carney pledges summer consultations with Indigenous leaders
The House of Commons approved the government's legislation to fast-track big projects Friday before breaking for summer, wrapping up a brief but hectic four-week sitting. Prime Minister Mark Carney marked the event with an evening news conference alongside Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty and other MPs, where he vowed to address Indigenous concerns that the bill would allow Ottawa to override their rights. Mr. Carney laid out a plan for formal summits with Indigenous leaders over the summer to work out the details of how the new project regime will work. He also acknowledged that his government could have done a better job of explaining how the process will ensure Indigenous rights are protected. 'Being a reliable partner to Indigenous peoples is not just about upholding the duty to consult. It's about enabling the creation of long-term wealth and prosperity for Indigenous peoples through full equity ownership,' he said. Carney responds to Indigenous criticism of Bill C-5, says consultation is 'at the heart' of legislation Bill C-5 contains a section that aims to eliminate federal barriers to interprovincial trade and a section that allows the government to list specific large projects as national priorities and then exempt them from various legal requirements to speed up approvals. Mr. Carney said the plan was a central plank of the Liberal platform and pledged that it will be 'the most important economic initiative this country has seen for a long time.' Ms. Gull-Masty, the first Indigenous person to serve as Indigenous Services Minister, said the bill lays out a plan to co-develop projects with Indigenous communities. 'Now the real work begins,' she said. The House of Commons is not scheduled to resume sitting until Sept. 15. But the Indigenous consultations on C-5 are just one of many policy files that will continue to play out over the summer. Canada's 45th Parliament kicked off just a month after the April 28 federal election that returned the Liberals to power with another minority government, this time under Mr. Carney, the party's new leader. Trade tensions with the United States dominated Canadian political debate during the election campaign and that has carried through the early days of the Carney government. Chartrand on Bill C-5: 'We do have to have consent from Indigenous rights holders' The Prime Minister and U.S. President Donald Trump set a 30-day deadline at this week's Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Alta., to reach a deal aimed at resolving trade issues between the two countries. Mr. Carney leaves Sunday for Brussels and then The Hague for meetings of the Canada-European Union summit and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit. In an interview Friday in Parliament's West Block, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said Canadians should not expect Mr. Carney's pace to slow down during the summer. 'I think that we have a Prime Minister who very much is going to be a 365-day-a-year leader of this country,' he said. Further, he said the sheer number of outside issues that require attention, such as recent developments in the Middle East or wildfires across the country, means there is no slow period in government. 'The pace of events when one is in public life today is beyond dizzying,' he said. In addition to negotiating defence issues with the Europeans and trade matters with Mr. Trump, Mr. Carney's pledge to release a 2025 budget shortly after Parliament resumes means the traditional prebudget lobbying and consultation will run through the summer. Explainer: What federal Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, is all about Mr. MacKinnon boasted that the Liberals accomplished a lot in a short period, listing the adoption of tax cuts, billions of dollars more for the military and the passing of Bill C-5. In addition to C-5, the House of Commons adopted two bills related to approving government spending. However, other legislation related to border security and tax cuts did not get through the House. Both bills contain elements that are drawing strong criticism from privacy advocates. The tax measures, including an income-tax cut and removing the federal fuel charge, can still go ahead, however, because they were approved in an earlier vote. The government treats tax changes as if they are in place once legislation has received an initial vote of support. Bill C-5 is widely expected to be approved by the Senate next week. Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer said Mr. Carney has not delivered on his campaign pledges to curb government spending, which is why his party voted against two spending bills this week. 'Maybe he gets some points for new rhetoric, but so far, it's pretty much the same Liberal approach on borrowing, spending, talking down our energy sector, refusing to commit to new big energy projects and defending the Liberal crime policies,' he said in an interview Friday. 'Nothing's off the table': AFN warns of potential legal action if Bill C-5 passes The Conservatives supported C-5 and Mr. Scheer said the party will continue to vote in favour of measures if they involve lower taxes or improving the economy. 'If the government is serious about meeting those objectives, we work with them. And if they don't, then we oppose,' he said. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet predicted this week that when the Conservatives return in the fall, after party leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to regain a seat via a summer by-election, the party will be less likely to support the Liberals in the House. 'At a certain point, the Conservatives will return to being Conservatives,' he said at a news conference Wednesday, adding that the Liberals will then be more dependent on Bloc support. NDP interim leader Don Davies said that the Liberals under Mr. Carney are adopting more conservative policies. 'So far, I think the empirical evidence from the Carney government is absolutely that they're a right of centre government,' he said in an interview Friday. 'I mean, the first three things that Mr. Carney did was he ripped three policies directly out of the Conservative playbook. He cancelled the carbon tax, he cancelled the capital-gains inclusion policy and he indicated he was going to cut public service jobs,' he said. Having been reduced to just seven seats in the April election, the NDP no longer has party status and is not invited to the weekly meetings of House leaders that sets the parliamentary agenda. Nonetheless, Mr. Davies said his party has been effective at securing amendments to government legislation and bringing public attention to issues such as wildfires in Western Canada.
Globe and Mail
40 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Jane Silverstone Segal Increases Number of Shares of DAVIDsTEA Inc. Under Her Control
MONTREAL, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jane Silverstone Segal, Chair of the Board of Directors of DAVIDsTEA Inc. (' DAVIDsTEA ') (TSXV: DTEA), announces that on June 20, 2025, she received shares of Rainy Day Investments Ltd. (' RDI ') by way of bequest from her late husband Mr. Herschel Segal, as a result of which Jane Silverstone Segal has voting control of RDI. RDI owns 12,012,538 common shares of DAVIDsTEA, representing 44.51% of DAVIDsTEA's issued and outstanding common shares, which shares are now controlled by Jane Silverstone Segal. Immediately prior to the transfer of shares described above, Jane Silverstone Segal held 127,087 common shares of DAVIDsTEA, representing 0.47% of its 26,985,738 issued and outstanding common shares. Immediately after the transfer of shares described above, Mrs. Segal holds or exercises control, directly or indirectly, over 12,139,625 common shares, representing 44.99% of DAVIDsTEA's issued and outstanding common shares. As a result of the transfer of shares described above, Mrs. Segal's holdings of DAVIDsTEA's common shares increased to 44.99% from 0.47%. The late Mr. Herschel Segal also held 1,523 common shares of DAVIDsTEA directly, representing 0.006% of the issued and outstanding shares. The 1,523 shares will be transferred to Jane Silverstone Segal by way of bequest in due course, following which she will hold or exercise control, directly or indirectly, over 12,141,148 common shares, representing 44.99% of DAVIDsTEA's issued and outstanding common shares. In accordance with applicable securities laws, Mrs. Segal may, from time to time and at any time, acquire additional DAVIDsTEA shares and/or other equity, debt or other securities or instruments (collectively, ' Securities ') of DAVIDsTEA in the open market or otherwise, and Mrs. Segal reserves the right to dispose of any or all of her Securities in the open market or otherwise at any time and from time to time, and to engage in similar transactions with respect to the Securities, the whole depending on market conditions, the business and prospects of the DAVIDsTEA and other relevant factors. A copy of an early warning report filed by Jane Silverstone Segal in connection with the transfer described above is available on SEDAR+ under DAVIDsTEA's profile. This news release is issued under the early warning provisions of Canadian securities legislation.
Globe and Mail
41 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
enCore Energy Announces Filing of Early Warning Report
DALLAS , June 20, 2025 /CNW/ - enCore Energy Corp. (NASDAQ: EU) (TSXV: EU) (the "Company" or "enCore"), America's Clean Energy Company ™, announces that it has disposed of 170,000,000 common shares in the capital of Anfield Energy Inc. (" Anfield") (TSX.V: AEC; OTCQB: ANLDF; FRANKFURT : 0AD) in a private agreement at a price of $0.115 per share for aggregate proceeds of $19,550 ,000 (Canadian dollars). Immediately following the disposition, enCore holds or controls no common shares of Anfield. The disposition represents a 14.73% decrease in enCore's ownership or control over the outstanding common shares of Anfield on an undiluted basis. enCore does not currently hold or control any securities of Anfield . Since enCore's last early warning report dated January 15, 2024 , enCore's holdings have decreased by an approximate 16.02% of the outstanding common shares of Anfield on an undiluted basis. enCore disposed of the shares of Anfield in a private transaction. enCore may, depending on market and other conditions, increase beneficial ownership of the Company's securities, whether in the open market, by privately negotiated agreements or otherwise, subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and other available investment and business opportunities. The disclosure respecting enCore's shareholdings contained in this news release is made pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 and a report respecting the above disposition will be filed with the applicable securities commissions and will be available for viewing at A copy of the report may also be obtained by contacting Robert Willette , Acting Chief Executive Officer, or at info@ About enCore Energy Corp. enCore Energy Corp., America's Clean Energy Company ™, is committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable fuel for nuclear energy as the only United States uranium company with multiple central processing plants in operation. enCore operates the 100% owned and operated Rosita CPP in South Texas and the 70/30 joint venture Alta Mesa CPP with Boss Energy Ltd., with enCore operating as the project manager. The enCore team is led by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of ISR uranium operations and the nuclear fuel cycle. enCore solely utilizes ISR for uranium extraction, a well-known and proven technology co-developed by the leaders at enCore Energy. Following upon enCore's demonstrated success in South Texas , future projects in enCore's planned project pipeline include the Dewey-Burdock project in South Dakota and the Gas Hills project in Wyoming . The Company holds other assets including non-core assets and proprietary databases. enCore is committed to working with local communities and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate developments. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
