Ontario to send Toronto funds for '26 WC matches

The Ontario government has confirmed it will send Toronto $97M in "conditional funding to host matches as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup." Toronto is currently set to hold "at least five World Cup games" at BMO Field when Canada, Mexico and the U.S. host the next world soccer tournament together. In a letter to the city, the government said the money "can only be used for investments that will 'build lasting public infrastructure'" and "benefit the local community after the matches are hosted." The money would be "limited to examples like community infrastructure, tourism and sports legacy" while "excluding any projects where the private sector was the main benefactor." The letter also "urged the city to limit public investment in the World Cup to the greatest extent possible" and said the government "would not guarantee deficit funding" (GLOBAL NEWS, 2/1).