Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Toronto mayor-elect Olivia Chow to cancel the city’s plans to spend at least $90 million on hosting a handful of 2026 World Cup games and re-allocate the money to other pressing priorities.

“Chow ran on a platform with spending promises a mile long but plans to pay for them that could be written on the back of a napkin,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “By cancelling the city’s plans to pay for Toronto to host a handful of World Cup games, Chow could leave more money in taxpayers’ pockets or pay for over 90 per cent of her promised Secure Affordable Housing Fund for one year.”

In her campaign platform, Chow promised to create a new Secure Affordable Housing that would cost $100 million per year.

“If Toronto goes ahead with hosting a handful of FIFA games, taxpayers will be on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars for every minute players are on BMO Field,” said Goldberg. “If Chow can’t secure significantly more private sector sponsorship, it’s time for the city to do the financially responsible thing and withdraw its bid.”

The city estimates that hosting the 2026 World Cup games will cost taxpayers $290 million, with at least $90 million coming from Toronto city hall. The number of games Toronto will host is yet to be decided, but it will be more than five and less than eight. Prior experiences with other major sporting events suggests that cost overruns are virtually certain.

“The idea of Toronto hosting some World Cup games sounds fun, but not if it means hammering Torontonians with even higher taxes,” said Goldberg. “Chow should pull the plug on former mayor John Tory’s FIFA pipedream and save taxpayers a boatload of cash.”