Commentary
When Canada, the United States, and Mexico combined forces to bid on hosting the 2026 version of the FIFA World Cup, there was widespread intrigue. The united bid
beat out Morocco by a vote of 134-65 at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow on June 13, 2018, turning that intrigue into euphoria.
I was among them.
The game of football—or soccer, as it’s more commonly known in this part of the world—is a sport I’ve followed closely since I was young. Hosting the World Cup would offer Canadians a unique opportunity to witness the best football players on the planet in their own country. Toronto and Vancouver were selected as Canada’s host cities. The federal government recently
allocated $104 million for Toronto to support its six World Cup matches. The potential economic benefits from travel and tourism were hard to ignore.
However, my enthusiasm has dwindled over time, prompting me to question whether Canada should have reconsidered hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Why?
Ottawa’s decision to allocate a significant amount of taxpayers’ money during a period of financial instability is questionable.
Hosting the World Cup provides Canada with an opportunity to develop a competitive football team on the global stage. Despite the successes and setbacks in our past World Cup experiences, like in 1986 and 2022, there is potential for growth with players like Alphonso Davies and Stephen Eustáquio.
Regardless of Ottawa’s financial commitment to the 2026 World Cup and Canada’s national team, the allocation of funds could have been handled more judiciously. Many individuals and families are facing financial challenges due to the affordability crisis, making basic necessities increasingly unaffordable.
There are also unanswered questions surrounding Canada’s World Cup bid.
For example, Toronto Star reporter Ben Spurr
revealed in a March 8 article that “Toronto signed a secret agreement that allowed it to withdraw from hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup if it did not receive financial assistance from higher levels of government by mid-2020.” This precautionary measure, agreed upon by then-Mayor John Tory and city officials, raises questions about Toronto’s financial responsibilities regarding the World Cup.
This raises concerns about the financial impact of hosting the World Cup in 2026, similar to the rising costs of living in recent years. Canadian taxpayers may bear a significant burden.
Football is a beautiful game, but only time will tell if Canadians will appreciate the beauty of hosting the 2026 World Cup when faced with the final bill.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
