The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will take place from June 11 to July 19 next year. In Canada, which is hosting the event for the first time, the initial batch of tickets for the 13 matches scheduled in Vancouver and Toronto sold out immediately after going on sale. However, many Canadians feel that the ticket prices are prohibitively high and beyond their financial means.
FIFA announced that over 2 million tickets have already been sold for the tournament's 104 matches, demonstrating strong fan enthusiasm even though the final match schedule will not be confirmed until the official draw ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5. Peter Montopoli, who is overseeing Canada's World Cup preparations, noted that the initial allocation of tickets provided by FIFA was in high demand and sold out quickly. The next phase of ticket sales will run from Dec. 11 to Jan. 13, though it remains unclear how many tickets Canada will receive in this round.
Hosting the 2026 World Cup is expected to create nearly 25,000 jobs in Canada and generate approximately CAD 2 billion (around HK$11.15 billion) in economic benefits. However, a survey conducted by the polling firm Angus Reid revealed that 71% of respondents believe World Cup ticket prices are too high, with many expecting to watch the games on television instead.
On FIFA's official resale platform, tickets for Canada's first World Cup match in Toronto on June 12 are priced at a minimum of CAD 1,765.74 (approximately HK$9,842), while the lowest price for the first match in Vancouver on June 13 is CAD 798.10 (around HK$4,448). Prices on other resale websites are slightly lower, with Vancouver match tickets listed at CAD 481 (about HK$2,681), though Toronto match tickets still command CAD 1,382 (approximately HK$7,703).
The same survey also found that 52% of respondents would consider selling two World Cup tickets for cash if given the opportunity. While many expressed excitement about Canada hosting the World Cup for the first time, they noted that soccer is less popular domestically compared to baseball and ice hockey, meaning fans may not pursue tickets with the same fervor seen in other nations.
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