Vancouver Believes in FIFA World Cup Despite Doubling of Costs

  • Province of British Columbia sees extra C$1 billion in GDP
  • Vancouver to host seven games of event shared with US, Mexico

BC Place Stadium, top left, in Vancouver. 

Photographer: James MacDonald/Bloomberg
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Canadian officials doubled the estimated costs of hosting seven FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver in 2026 — but they’re betting the soccer bonanza will still pay off.

Gross costs are now estimated between C$483 million ($351 million) and C$581 million, the province of British Columbia said on Tuesday. Preliminary estimates two years ago only went as high as C$260 million, with two additional matches and inflation accounting for some of the increase.