Vancouver now believes the price of hosting the 2026 World Cup games to be double what was previously expected. British Columbia officials claimed on Tuesday that costs could reach up to $422 million. This would be a massive difference from the initial plans. Previous estimates two years ago were only at around $189 million.



The western Canadian city has been named as one of 16 total North American areas to host games of the upcoming tournament. Canada, along with the United States, and Mexico, will host the expanded competition throughout the summer of 2026. Of the 16 base areas chosen, two Canadian cities were picked to host matches. Toronto is joining Vancouver to bring the tournament north of the border.



<h2>Exact profit will depend on which teams play in Vancouver</h2>



While costs are rising, area officials are already planning ways to offset much of the expenses. According to a report by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-30/vancouver-believes-in-fifa-world-cup-despite-doubling-of-costs?leadSource=uverify%20wall&amp;embedded-checkout=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forbes</a>, Vancouver is counting on potentially huge funds set aside from the government. This includes an $84 million boost directly from the national authorities. However, the city is also expecting to receive another $167 million tax break as well. A similar move was made when Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics.



In total, local officials may end up paying as low as $105 million in net costs for the tournament. If so, Vancouver is planning on still generating a fairly massive profit from hosting World Cup games. Province executives believe that the tournament could eventually bring in around $725 million over the next few years.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240501_WST_504535_Vancouver-BC-Place-1200x670_e4a7df1b.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-504552" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Vancouver-BC-Place-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Vancouver-BC-Place-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Vancouver-BC-Place-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Vancouver-BC-Place.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



The huge haul would essentially come down to tourism. Officials are currently planning for an extra million visitors to come in and out of the area around the competition. The exact figure of tourists, however, will greatly depend on potential teams to play in Vancouver. Particular group-stage matchups are available until late 2025 when the 48-team field fills out.



Planners are expecting around 350,000 fans to directly visit BC Place Stadium. Part of the aforementioned costs will go towards renovating the 54,000-capacity arena. Vancouver is hosting seven total matches during the World Cup. Five of these games come in the group stage. The remaining duo of fixtures are to be during the knockout phase of the competition.



<h2>Host cities had to agree to FIFA’s strict demands</h2>



Potential costs of host cities during the World Cup <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifas-eye-opening-demands-for-world-cup-2026-host-cities-20230811-WST-449616.html">came out</a> last summer. While Vancouver initially opted to keep a tight lid on FIFA’s demands, nearby Seattle spilled the beans. The Emerald City agreed with the governing body to fully fund all public safety, including fire, police, and medical services, throughout the tournament.



Along with these safety measures, Seattle will also provide free transportation to various people at the competition. This includes match-going fans, but also FIFA president Gianni Infantino, other governing body officials, heads of state, teams, and match referees.



Despite the hefty demands, cities like Vancouver are firm believers that you have to spend money to make money. The World Cup is the biggest and most lucrative sporting tournament in the world.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Vancouver plans for huge payoff at World Cup despite rising costs

Vancouver believes that they can make massive profits despite the prices of hosting 2026 World Cup games doubling previous expectations.

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ first season in MLS ended as so many other “expansion” teams’ season have ended in U.S. leagues throughout the years: basement and struggling to build for the future.* &nbsp;After the near immediate success of recent MLS additions like Seattle and Philly, as well as the late playoff run by Cascadia rivals Portland, this season had to have been somewhat of a disappointment. &nbsp;Now, on their third coach in less than two years, the team is looking to build on a solid nucleus to begin their climb up the tough Western Conference standings and contend for an MLS playoff spot.
The Whitecaps kick off our “3 Questions” series for this offseason, where I will take a look at every MLS team (in draft order) and see what three questions will dominate their offseason. &nbsp;These questions and how they are answered over the next three months will go a long way to determining how or if they can contend for MLS Cup 2012, or whatever relevant goals they may have.
1. Third time’s a charm: how will the team fare under new coach and CEO?
To say there have been some changes in the team’s management is an understatement. &nbsp;As mentioned, Martin Rennie is the team’s third coach is a little over a calendar year, and his style has won acclaim in the lower levels of U.S. soccer. &nbsp;How he is able to implement his more cerebral coaching style on a team that has been at times a little mental (see Eric Hassli’s early run of red cards) will be a key to determining the improvement this club can make. &nbsp;In addition, the <a href="http:\/\/www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2011/12/vancouver-whitecaps-fc-ceo-paul-barber-step-down-end-february-2012" target="_blank">recent resignation</a> of CEO Paul Barber casts some shadows over the club. &nbsp;While he will be replaced by in-house personnel, the absence of the man who helped move the team to MLS and into BC Place (as well as ultimately hired Rennie) adds a little uncertainty in the front office. &nbsp;How all of these new faces deal with this team remain to be seen. &nbsp;What we do know is that Rennie has been given the authority for personnel moves, so authority rests with him for the roster.
2. Can they stop allowing so many goals?
The ‘Caps offense was fine last season and at times even quite impressive, but their defense undid all of that good. &nbsp;Not surprisingly that is one area where Rennie and the front office have been focusing their player purge. &nbsp;While starting keeper Joe Cannon was<a href="http:\/\/www.theprovince.com/sports/Whitecaps+Cannon+still+rounds+chamber/5835488/story.html" target="_blank"> re-signed</a> after taking a pay cut, back-up Jay Nolly was shipped off to Chicago and North Carolina RailHawks keeper Brad Knighton was brought on as competition for the starting gig. &nbsp;Their biggest defensive acquisition, however, is probably <a href="http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/vancouver-whitecaps-agree-to-terms-with-veteran-south-korean-midfielder/2011/12/06/gIQAgGCEaO_story.html" target="_blank">Young-Pyo Lee from South Korea</a>. &nbsp;The fullback is a World Cup veteran and played for clubs PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur. &nbsp;The team hopes his veteran presence will stabilize the backline, and with his pedigree there’s no doubt it won’t help. &nbsp;The question is, will the players around him be good enough as well?&nbsp; And will John Thorrington be healthy enough to be a defensive force in the midfield?
3. Will Omar Salgado continue his rapid rise to stardom? &nbsp;
Reports from the Generation Adidas tour suggest that Omar Salgado is playing well and making a name for himself for the national team. &nbsp;The GA tour plus his training in England and time in the U.S. youth camp have given the young forward valuable playing experience against some top-flight competition. &nbsp;Now the question is can he take this experience back with him to Vancouver and translate it onto the MLS pitch? &nbsp;The ‘Caps have scoring options around him, so he is not going to be relied upon to make all of the plays. &nbsp;But a dynamic young scoring threat can make a difference for a team; look at how much better Kansas City was when Teal Bunbury was playing well or even Juan Agudelo for New York. &nbsp;Salgado taking the next step could be a huge factor for this team’s improvement in the new year.
*Note: I know Vancouver is technically not an expansion team in the traditional sense, but the principles apply.

Whitecaps Looking Up for 2012 - World Soccer Talk

Whitecaps Looking Up for 2012

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Vancouver will start its MLS journey in a few months, and the Whitecaps may be doing so with some imported talent.
<a title="article" href="http:\/\/www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Robbie-Savage-set-to-quit-Derby-for-Vancouver-Whitecaps-of-MLS-in-American-League-Exclusive-article671407.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mirror is reporting</a> that Derby County’s Robbie Savage is considering making the move to MLS.
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“The presentation they made to me was brilliant. To be honest, it blew me away,” he told the Mirror. “I am fully committed to Derby and seeing out the end of my contract there but Vancouver have asked whether they will release me so I can be ready for the MLS season starting in March.”
The former Welsh International would add quite a bit of star power to the expansion Whitecaps, who hold the first and eighth picks in Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft. 
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Vancouver plans for huge payoff at World Cup despite rising costs

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Robbie Savage Headed to Vancouver?