A recent Angus Reid poll reveals that the majority of residents in Canada's two World Cup host cities, Toronto and Vancouver, believe the financial burden of hosting the tournament outweighs its benefits. Despite promises of economic stimulation, seven in ten respondents in the Greater Toronto Area (70%) and Metro Vancouver (72%) stated that the public costs—reportedly reaching $1 billion per city—are not justified by the trade-offs involved.
Key Concerns for Residents
The poll highlights several issues causing discontent among locals. These include significant disruption to daily life, street closures, extensive security perimeters, the perception that revenue disproportionately favors FIFA, and the forced rescheduling of summer events. Many residents view these requirements as an unacceptable condition of hosting the World Cup.
Lack of Interest in Matches
Interest in the tournament itself appears low. In Vancouver, 51% of respondents expressed disinterest in watching any matches, while in Toronto, that figure rose to 59%. Only 34% of Vancouverites and 39% of Torontonians reported being excited about the World Cup coming to their cities.
Furthermore, more residents in the GTA view hosting as a poor investment for Toronto (47%) than a good one (20%). Similarly, in Metro Vancouver, 51% consider it a poor investment versus 21% who see it positively. Transparency is also a concern: only one-third of respondents in each city (Toronto 33%, Vancouver 32%) believe their municipal government will fully disclose the total costs after the event.
Upcoming Matches
Toronto is set to host its first of six matches on Friday when Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium (formerly BMO Field). Vancouver will host its first of seven matches on Saturday at BC Place, featuring Australia versus Türkiye.
The Angus Reid Institute conducted the online survey from May 7 to 11, 2026, among a randomized sample of 1,803 Canadian adults. For comparison, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
