Canada Braces for a Costly, Uncertain World Cup Celebration
The 2026 World Cup opens in Canada on Sunday at 7 a.m. Israel time, with Australia facing Turkey at BC Place in downtown Vancouver. It is the first time the global tournament is being held in Canada, and the country is hoping the event will feel like a true celebration. Vancouver and Toronto will host 13 matches in total, including several of the less attractive group-stage fixtures, while some of the biggest stars and teams will play farther south.
In Vancouver, officials are preparing for packed crowds at every match. The stadium sits at the edge of downtown and connects to Robson Street, and the city has created a special fan route with attractions for game days. Nearby restaurants and cafes are expecting a flood of visitors, with an estimated 350,000 fans bringing in more than $700 million for local businesses. Yaletown will host parties and public viewing events with live music and food, and a citywide soccer atmosphere is building. Sports Illustrated ranked Vancouver first among the 16 host cities, citing transit, walkability, stadium access and weather.
The boom has also pushed prices sharply higher. Hotel occupancy is expected to top 90 percent, with an average nightly rate of about $1,500 and Airbnb prices around $1,100. That has fueled an unauthorized rental market, while residents are also making money by renting parking spots near the stadium for $75 per car. To ease congestion, the city added 600 bus trips per day.
Despite the excitement, many locals are skeptical about whether the expense is worth it. A survey in the two host cities found that 72 percent of residents do not think the huge public investment, about $1 billion each, is justified. They cite disrupted routines, street closures and the belief that too much of the revenue will go to FIFA. In Vancouver, 51 percent and in Toronto, 59 percent said they are not interested in the matches. For many residents, the World Cup is arriving with celebration, but also frustration over price and access.
