QUESTION PERIOD — Canadian Heritage
FIFA World Cup 2026
June 10, 2026
Government leader, Canadians are excited to see the FIFA World Cup come to Canada. Major sporting events can showcase our country, inspire young athletes and unite Canadians behind our national team. However, Canadians also expect transparency and accountability when hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are at stake.
Recent polling shows that nearly 7 in 10 residents in the host regions of Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area believe that the public cost of hosting the World Cup is not worth the trade-offs.
Senator Moreau, can you tell this chamber exactly how much federal funding has been committed to hosting the World Cup, and what safeguards are in place to ensure taxpayers receive value for their money?
Good question.
My understanding is that FIFA is an important event that the Government of Canada and many Canadians are very happy to be hosting. I don’t have the data here to answer your exact question, but I will provide you with the amount that has been spent by the government for the FIFA event.
Senator Moreau, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, or PBO, estimates that the World Cup could cost taxpayers approximately $1 billion, including nearly half a billion dollars from the federal government. Do you agree with the PBO’s estimate, and can you assure Canadians that the final cost will not exceed that figure?
My understanding is that your first questions were not based on estimations. You wanted to know how much the government will spend — that relates to transparency. As for an estimate, I will not comment on the PBO’s remarks, but I will provide you with the figure as soon as I obtain it.
