June 24, 2025
Parteek Singh Mahal
VANCOUVER, BC – With just under a year until the global spectacle of FIFA World Cup 2026 descends upon Vancouver, officials are ramping up preparations, unveiling updated cost estimates and detailing the massive economic benefits expected to flow into British Columbia.
The province, the City of Vancouver, and BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) are confident the tournament will not only showcase the region to the world but also deliver a significant and lasting boost to the local economy.
Officials project that hosting seven matches will attract over one million additional out-of-province visitors between 2026 and 2031, injecting more than $1 billion in new visitor spending and creating over 18,000 jobs during that period. These figures align with FIFA’s own economic impact assessment, which estimates the tournament could contribute $1.7 billion in economic benefits to B.C. from June 2023 to August 2026, including a $980-million increase to GDP.
Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, emphasized the “extraordinary opportunity to showcase our province to the world,” while Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim confirmed that the city’s direct costs, including security and the FIFA Fan Festival, remain on track with 2024 budget projections.
Tourism industry leaders, including Walt Judas of the Tourism Industry Association of BC and Royce Chwin of Destination Vancouver, expressed optimism about the tournament’s potential to boost local businesses and the province’s $9.6 billion annual visitor economy.
A key aspect of Vancouver’s hosting plan is a collaborative approach with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Leaders from these Indigenous communities highlighted the opportunity to share their culture and history with a global audience, emphasizing the lasting legacy and community benefits.
The Province estimates its updated net core cost for hosting the seven matches to be within a planning range of $85 million to $145 million, consistent with last year’s estimates and not factoring in potential additional provincial tax revenues generated by the event.
Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s Secretary of State (Sport), underscored the broader impact, stating the FIFA World Cup 2026 is “about more than football: local businesses, workers, and communities across the province will all benefit.”
Preparations are well underway, with renovations and upgrades progressing at the Killarney Park training site and BC Place stadium, aiming to enhance accessibility and ensure the stadium remains a top-tier venue for future events.
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