The federal government has promised up to $145 million to support enhanced security operations related to hosting the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced the $145 million for Vancouver and Toronto on Wednesday (April 29). The funding is meant to address the specific operational needs identified by the host provinces and cities ahead of the month-long event.
Anandasangaree said the funding will help reduce cost pressures on provinces and municipalities, while ensuring public safety agencies have the resources needed to deliver a safe and well‑managed tournament.
Vancouver – and B.C. by extension – is expected to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for the World Cup.
B.C. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said in the house on Wednesday that the provincial government is waiting on further details about the funding contribution.
Surrey-Panorama MLA Bryan Tepper, the Opposition’s community safety critic, asked Krieger how many officers will be deployed to Vancouver from elsewhere in the province.
“How many officers in total are being redeployed from B.C. detachments to the Lower Mainland for FIFA, and which communities are losing them?”
Krieger said the Vancouver Police Department is the police of jurisdiction for the event, “but they are not alone in the task of keeping games safe.” She added the federal RCMP’s commissioner has also indicated full support in ensuring the games in Vancouver are safe and successful.
“There will be decisions made at the provincial and national levels about the deployment of officers in advance of, or during the games.”
Government House Leader Mike Farnworth said the government has worked closely with the City of Vancouver to ensure BC Place is ready when the games start.
“We have already heard that Vancouver is far and away the best prepared city in the entire North American FIFA tournament.”
Anandasangaree said the World Cup, which kicks off June 11 and runs until July 19, will be “one of the largest and most complex sporting events ever hosted in Canada.”
Canada is set to host 13 of the 104 matches, with seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto. The 2026 World Cup is jointly hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico – a first for FIFA.