Premier David Eby says he has asked his office to have the total costs of the upcoming World Cup out by the end of the month.
“I understand the important need to have a final and full accounting of the cost of the event available to the public. Our intention was to release that with our partners closer to the date of the first game, but I have asked our team to bring that forward to ensure that we have the total out to the public by the end of the month,” Eby told media during a press conference and at BC Place Tuesday (May 12). The event was part of a tour of the facility to show upgrades that will be completed before the first game kicks off at BC Place on June 13.
He said the costs are a “key piece of information” for the public.
Less than a year out from the World Cup, it was revealed that the games could cost $43 million more than the previous estimate. A June 2025 estimate showed the costs ranging between $532 million on the low end and $624 million on the high end.
Eby didn’t address any estimates on Tuesday, but said the province has a number of partners and is coordinating with them in terms of releasing the full disclosure of costs.
“As you know, we just recently finalized an agreement with the federal government in terms of contribution to the security costs.”
At the end of April, the federal government announced $145 million for Vancouver and Toronto for security costs for the FIFA World Cup. The funding is meant to address the specific operational needs identified by the host provinces and cities ahead of the month-long event.
Eby emphasized the “remarkable impact” the World Cup is going to have on the province, “both economically in terms of hosting major investors interested in putting money into British Columbia’s economy, as well as on our crucially important and foundational tourism industry in the province.”
He said there will be an event on Thursday that will also better lay out ticketing policies and initiatives of the government ahead of the games.
He added that the government will also have “full details” of the province’s business initiatives related to the World Cup games and how and if politicians will be able to get tickets to the games.
“The previous government took a particular approach with Olympic tickets, where tickets were bought by the public for politicians to be able to attend games just to watch the game. Our government will not be doing that,” Eby said.
“Rest assured that this ticket policy will be consistent with the understanding that British Columbians who are excited about the game and want to pay for a ticket and show up at a game will get priority, not a politician getting a free ticket just to show up and watch the game on the taxpayer’s dollar.”