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CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Doug Ford suggests willingness to work with Toronto on FIFA World Cup expenses
Signage for the official brand and new #WeAre26 awareness campaign, as a host city for FIFA World Cup 2026, photographed at BMO Field in Toronto, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin Premier Doug Ford is promising to sit down with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and ''come up with a solution' amid concerns that the city could be facing a sizeable shortfall with less than one year to go until the start of the tournament. The municipality was counting on $97 million in funding from Queen's Park to help cover the costs of hosting six FIFA World Cup games in 2026. But a staff report last month revealed that more than $39 million of that funding will go toward additional provincial service costs, including $14 million to the Ontario Provincial Police for security and another $15 million to help cover additional hospital and paramedic surge capacity. 'When I made this agreement I said we weren't going to do a penny more than $96 or $97 million, somewhere around there, but when I talked to the mayor and we were looking over the costs, the security is crazy,' Ford said during an unrelated news conference on Tuesday, where he was asked whether there might be any wiggle room in the province's deal with the city. 'She (Chow) needs more cash which I understand. But we will review it, we will come up with a solution and it will turn out well.' The total cost of hosting World Cup games in Toronto has been pegged at $380 million, with the federal government contributing $104 million and Ontario chipping in the $97 million, including services. Chow, however, has said that the city was not expecting so much of the province's contribution to be eaten up by service costs and can't just find the cash on its own to cover the shortfall. She has warned that if more of the provincial contribution can't be delivered in cash, the city may have to look at slashing many of the planned expenses associated with the World Cup. 'I wish we signed all the cost-sharing before we did the bidding but we are now here,' Chow said alongside Ford at Tuesday's press conference. 'So, it is absolutely true. We are negotiating and we are looking at the costs. The security costs for example are like 30 plus percent (of the provincial contribution). Do we really need that high level of security?' A motion approved by city council last month directed the city manager to limit FIFA World Cup expenses to $340 million 'until such time as the City of Toronto has identified savings, secured intergovernmental funding or other sources of revenue to fund [the] full $380 million budget.'
National Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
5 takeaways from Calgary Stampeders' first road win of the 2025 CFL season
Article content Yes … it happened for the Red and White, with a solid road decision — a 29-19 defeat of the defending Grey Cup champions Saturday afternoon. Article content 'Good team win,' Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson told Stamps TV after the triumph over the host Argonauts (0-2). 'I thought it was important. Article content 'You know … just keep stacking good quality performances early in the year. Try to get your wins in early and see where it takes you.' Article content Article content If that road victory doesn't have anybody thinking the Stampeders (2-0) have at least halted the free-fall of the last few Canadian Football League campaigns, then perhaps nothing will leave an impression. Article content But it is true it's still early in what's hoped to be a turnaround season for the Stamps. Article content It is a keeper, though, and one the Stamps can hang their hat on. Article content 'Great crowd, loud crowd … best crowd I've seen in Toronto in a long, long time,' said Dickenson, of the 17,902 fans on hand at BMO Field to take in the battle and the pre-game ceremony to honour the 2024 Grey Cup champ Argos. 'It was an environment you enjoy playing in, but the defence, I think, fed on that emotion and that intensity. And in the first half, both defences really did take it to the offences. Article content 'I think we just had a second half that had a little bit more rhythm.' Article content 1. Cue the defence Article content Article content The defence allowed just four first-half points and just four more in the third quarter, stuffing the Argos assault behind former Stamps QB Nick Arbuckle time and again. It wasn't until the final frame when the home side finally found some stride, but the 11 points didn't compare to the 17 put up in the fourth quarter by the Stampeders. Article content 'The defence really held it down for the majority of the game,' Stamps QB Vernon Adams Jr. told Stamps TV. 'It kept Toronto out of scoring position. Article content 'But we'll watch the film, and we'll learn from it.'
National Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Argonauts drop to 0-2 after 29-19 loss to Stampeders
Vernon Adams Jr. and Dedrick Mills scored fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead the unbeaten Calgary Stampeders past the winless Toronto Argonauts 29-19 on a breezy Saturday afternoon. Article content Adams Jr.'s eight-yard scamper at 7:43 put Calgary ahead 26-11. It came after Lirim Hajrullahu's 47-yard field goal at 5:08 cut Toronto's deficit to 19-11. Article content Mills put Calgary ahead 19-8 with a one-yard scoring run at 1:19. Both Adams Jr. and Mills capped 70-yard scoring drives. Article content Toronto's Nick Arbuckle made it interesting with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Damonte Coxie at 9:50. Then the '24 Grey Cup MVP ran in for the two-point convert to cut Calgary's lead to 26-19. Article content But Rene Paredes cemented the win for Calgary (2-0) with a 23-yard field goal at 13:45. A BMO Field gathering of 17,902 watched the Argos (0-2) raise their Grey Cup banner before the opening kickoff. Article content Calgary earned the victory despite losing all-star receiver Reggie Begelton (knee). Begelton went down on the second play from scrimmage and needed help to leave the field. Article content Begelton later returned to the Stampeders sidelines on crutches and ice taped to his right knee. Article content Toronto lost middle linebacker Wynton McManis (knee) and starting running back Deonta McMahon (ankle) to first-half injuries. Article content Adrian Greene had Calgary's other touchdown. Paredes booted three field goals and a convert. Article content Hajrullahu booted three field goals and a single. John Haggerty added a single. Article content Article content Hajrullahu's 45-yard field goal at 13:06 of the third cut Calgary's lead to 12-8. Article content Paredes' 23-yard field goal into the wind at 5:38 gave Calgary a 12-4 lead. Haggerty's 83-yard punt single at 6:32 pulled Toronto to within 12-5. Article content Hajrullahu's 45-yard field goal to end the second quarter cut Calgary's halftime lead to 9-4. It followed a successful pass-interference challenge by Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie that put the ball at the Stampeders' 45-yard line with 13 seconds to play. Article content Both offences struggled establishing the run in the first half as Toronto had just 28 yards, three more than the Stamps. And neither unit was able to navigate effectively with or against the wind. Article content Greene staked Calgary to a 9-1 lead with a 40-yard pick-six at 8:56. He stepped in front of Nick Arbuckle's pass for David Ungerer III and ran untouched into the end zone. Article content There was no convert attempt due to an errant snap. Article content
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
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
CBC
11-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canada's men's soccer team, better than ever, hopes for more support a year out from World Cup
Waiting for the World Cup 14 minutes ago Duration 2:23 Social Sharing It will be "Soccer Day" in Toronto on Thursday, with a celebration planned at Nathan Phillips Square and the unveiling of a countdown clock: In exactly one year, the Canadian men will kick off their first home World Cup game at a revamped BMO Field. Hopefully it will fill up by then. On Tuesday, Canada lost a shootout to Ivory Coast after a scoreless draw but still claimed the inaugural Canadian Shield, a mini tournament staged in preparation for this month's Gold Cup that also included New Zealand and Ukraine. And yet those same men — playing better than they ever have, against stronger opponents than they've usually faced — have failed to win the attention they deserve. Despite an announced attendance of 18,489, BMO Field wasn't at half-capacity; more fans looked to be streaming from its parking lots to the Halsey concert at nearby Budweiser Stage. "I'm hopeful that in Vancouver we can sell that stadium out, get close to selling that stadium out," head coach Jesse Marsch said, shifting his focus to Canada's next home game, its Gold Cup opener against Honduras on June 17th at BC Place. "Like, come on, come out and support the team." Jonathan David: 'We've matured and got better' ahead of 2026 World Cup 8 hours ago Duration 8:54 Anastasia Bucsis sits down with Canadian soccer star Jonathan David to talk about the 2026 World Cup, captaining at the Gold Cup, transfer rumours, and his impact at Lille in France. Even if Vancouver answers his call, Toronto's apathy this week is worrisome: That countdown clock at City Hall will hit zero in no time, and Canada, along with the U.S. and Mexico, will co-host the biggest sporting event on Earth. It might want to start acting like it. When former head coach John Herdman led the team to Qatar in 2022, the first men's World Cup for Canada since 1986, the country's expectations outstripped the game's sometimes painful realities. Three group-stage losses revealed the gulf that remained between Canada and the world's best sides and soccer cultures. Under Marsch, the gap has closed. Against Ukraine and Ivory Coast, his squad demonstrated a depth and potency that should leave long-suffering Canadian soccer fans dreaming of previously unimaginable heights. Hope should be turning into genuine belief; wishes should be feeling more like facts. Canada scored three in the first 31 minutes against Ukraine on Saturday before finishing off a thrilling 4-2 win, the first for Canada over a European opponent since 2011. Fielding a far weaker lineup against Ivory Coast, Canada still shut out the African champions in a physical, foul-heavy affair. "We bent at moments, but we didn't break," Marsch said. "That part was great." The visitors nevertheless received the most dedicated support: A troupe of Ivory Coast fans played drums and tambourines and blew whistles deep into the night. Canada's faithful Voyageurs tried to muster a counter. Their efforts were diminished by the empty seats around them. "If I'm honest, I'd prefer to see a full stadium of red, especially here at home," defender Derek Cornelius said. WATCH | Canada wins Canadian Shield despite penalty loss: 13 hours ago Duration 1:59 There are excuses, and some of them are good. The Canadian Shield games were glorified friendlies; seats weren't cheap, and MLSE changed a confusing ticket format mid-stream; it was a late kickoff on a school night. The U.S., playing Switzerland in Nashville, didn't sell out, either. But the Americans are playing horrific soccer. They were demolished by the Swiss, 4-0. The Canadians are self-elevating, and their potential, if far from limitless, is unprecedented heading into their all-important World Cup. Their first group-stage win, and maybe even the knockout rounds, are within reach. Beyond the presumed boost of playing at home, Marsch's men will be in favoured Pot 1 for the group draw, along with their co-hosts and the nine top-seeded qualifiers. With next summer's tournament expanding to a record 48 teams, Canada could face an even weaker group than top seeds normally enjoy. Possible opponents include debutants Jordan and Uzbekistan. New Zealand has earned Oceania's now-automatic bid. Three CONCACAF countries beyond the co-hosts will qualify. Curacao is so far among the undefeated. Meanwhile, Canada continues to get faster, braver, more clinical. On the field, everything is falling into place for a history-making run. The fans are the only missing piece. There has never been a better chance for Canadians to see something special happen for and with their men, and there might not be again in their lifetimes. They have a year to decide what to make of it. Tick, tick, tick.
