Vancouver officials responsible for organizing the city’s involvement in FIFA World Cup 2026 held a media event Wednesday but did not share the updated cost to taxpayers to host seven matches at BC Place stadium.

In June 2025, the provincial government, PavCo and the city released estimates on hosting a portion of the 48-team international tournament and corresponding events. At the time, the city was projecting direct costs in the range of $261 million to $281 million.

At a news conference Wednesday, May 6, Jessie Adcock, leader of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Vancouver Host Committee, said officials were expecting to release budget details in the next few weeks.

“Last year’s financial update was given not knowing what teams were playing here, what times our matches were going to be,” she told reporters outside the 29th Avenue SkyTrain station. “So now we have all of that information, and we’ve been able to refine our plans.”

‘Inherent risks and uncertainties’

When budget estimates were released in June 2025, the city was projecting revenues from the major events municipal and regional district tax in the range of $250 million to $260 million, as well as an additional $52 million to $60 million including commercial revenues, facility rental fees and the city’s direct contribution of $5 million.

“Estimate ranges have been developed for costs and revenues to recognize that there are inherent risks and uncertainties remaining from now until the end of the event,” said a news release at the time.

“The estimates reflect a normal range of risks that could be reasonably expected for an event of this size and scale and include contingency allocations.”

The purpose of Wednesday’s news conference was to launch the Know Before You Go campaign, which provides information online for matchgoers, FIFA Fan Festival attendees and residents on what to expect when the games begin.

The information includes details on road closures, increased transit service and spectator routes for game days. Officials are expected to soon share information about a match day “local traffic access passes” with addresses on restricted streets.

Residents and businesses will receive detailed information by mail, including how to request passes and plan for match days, according to information posted on the Vancouver Host Committee’s website.

Security is expected to be the biggest cost of hosting the games.

The security portion of the budget is driven largely by the police presence required in and around BC Place stadium, which hosts the first match—Australia vs. Turkey—June 13.

Integrated safety and security unit

Don Chapman, a deputy chief with the Vancouver Police Department, told reporters that police will also be present at the FIFA Fan Festival at the new PNE amphitheatre, training sites at Killarney and at the University of British Columbia.

Additional security cameras are also being set up around the stadium.

Chapman anticipated questions about overall staffing, but said he couldn’t provide “a hard number” because of how fluid each day will be when it comes to monitoring crowds and various game times.

“So [with] staffing, we’re going to see peaks and we’re going to see valleys,” he said. “I will say, though, that I do anticipate probably July 2nd and July 7th when we get into the round of 32 and the round of 16 to really see more of a peak level of people into the city with real passionate interest.”

The VPD has jurisdiction of policing with respect to World Cup. Chapman is co-chair of the Integrated Safety and Security Unit, which is co-led by Dave Jones, a former chief with the New Westminster Police Service and Metro Vancouver Transit Police.

Police officers from the RCMP, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, the Delta Police Department and departments in Calgary and Edmonton will also be serving in Vancouver during the tournament.

Chapman said training exercises have occurred and continue to occur all over the city in the lead-up to the first game at BC Place stadium. He said the training began three years ago with tabletop exercises and evolved a couple weeks ago into a large and realistic “mass casualty event” at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds.

More than 200 officers were involved, along with other emergency services.

Canada’s first game of the World Cup is June 13 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The team plays in BC Place stadium June 18 against Qatar before taking on Switzerland June 24.

The roof at BC Place stadium will not be open during any of the games.

According to officials, the roof doesn’t open enough to give consistent sunlight across the whole field. That means the grass—which will be fully installed by next week—has to be watered and hydroponic lighting used to ensure it stays healthy for the matches.

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