A new poll from the Angus Reid Institute indicates that a significant majority of Metro Vancouver residents believe hosting the FIFA World Cup is not worth the associated costs. According to the survey, 72 percent of respondents in the Lower Mainland think that the potential $729 million price tag is too high for the benefits received.
Public Sentiment on World Cup Costs
The poll, conducted ahead of the tournament's kickoff on Thursday, found widespread concern over financial transparency and the distribution of revenues. A staggering 83 percent of respondents stated that governments should not be responsible for any cost overruns. Furthermore, 79 percent believe that FIFA will retain most of the revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcast rights, leaving governments to cover the majority of expenses, particularly security costs.
FIFA Revenue Control
According to the host city agreement, FIFA controls nearly all revenue generated from the World Cup. The organization expects to raise at least $11 billion from the 2026 tournament. Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, noted that many residents have observed sluggish hotel bookings and ticket sales, combined with FIFA's reputation for corruption, leading to skepticism about promised benefits from Mayor Ken Sim and Premier David Eby.
“This is a tournament that wasn’t subject to a plebiscite or a referendum as to whether the people of Metro Vancouver or the City of Vancouver wanted this tournament,” said Kurl. “It’s not as though there won’t be interest or fans showing up in fan zones. There will be diehard folks, there will be enthusiastic folks who want to go and be part of this, but in terms of the costs and the payoffs, we have been hearing about how this has not necessarily been the net boon for the Vancouver hotel industry that was predicted.”
Comparison to 2010 Olympics
Kurl also highlighted that unlike the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the World Cup does not provide the same level of public engagement due to higher ticket prices, a single venue, and many seats being purchased by wealthy international fans. In contrast, the Olympics initially faced similar skepticism: only 22 percent of British Columbians thought hosting the Games was a good idea months before the event. However, a year later, 80 percent felt it had been a success.
Government Response
Provincial Sport Minister Anne Kang told Postmedia that the government expects an additional $1 billion in gross domestic product from the World Cup and that hotel bookings are finally increasing. She expressed confidence that all matches will sell out.
Despite this optimism, the poll reflects a prevailing sentiment among residents that the financial burden outweighs the potential benefits, with concerns about increased security measures, street closures, and lack of government transparency.
