As anticipation builds worldwide for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ticket sales in Canada are falling short, with not a single match hosted in the country reaching sell-out status. According to reports, hundreds of tickets remain available for all 13 games scheduled in Canada, including the opening match.
Ticket Availability and Prices
On Friday morning, FIFA's official ticketing platform still listed tickets for every Canadian game. The opening match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium, temporarily renamed for the event, had 196 tickets unsold. Canada's June 18 match against Qatar in Vancouver also had hundreds of tickets available, while a limited number remained for the final group stage game against Switzerland on June 24.
Ticket prices appear to be a major deterrent. Costs for Canada's opener range from $1,370 to $3,135, potentially dampening fan enthusiasm.
City and Taxpayer Burden
The City of Toronto purchased 3,500 World Cup packages to resell at a profit, aiming to recoup some of the tax dollars spent on the event. However, as of this week, only about 450 packages had been sold, according to CBC reports.
Taxpayers across all government levels are contributing $1.07 billion for the 13 games in Canada, equating to roughly $82 million per match, as detailed in a May report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
With high ticket prices and slow sales, the financial viability of hosting the World Cup in Canada faces scrutiny as the tournament kicks off.
