The city of Toronto signed a “secret agreement that gave it the right to withdraw from hosting" the 2026 FIFA World Cup if it “didn't receive financial support from senior levels of government by mid-2020,” according to Ben Spurr of the TORONTO STAR. However, for reasons that “remain unclear, the city didn’t trigger the deal,” leaving it “on the hook for the skyrocketing costs of games.” The withdrawal agreement was intended to give the city a "legal off-ramp to avoid being burdened by a disproportionate share of World Cup costs” if the province of Ontario or Canadian governments did not pledge funding. Despite not reaching funding deals with the other governments by the June 30, 2020 deadline, Toronto “didn't back out.” City officials have "long been confident the money would flow,” but six years after signing up to host, it is “still not clear how much financial support the other governments will provide Toronto.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government announced in February it “would conditionally contribute" C$97M to the event, but “rejected the city's request to increase that contribution after the tournament price tag grew.” Toronto expects the federal government to "make a funding decision ‘in the coming months,’” although it is “not clear how much Ottawa will provide.” Federal policy is expected to "limit its contribution" to 35% of total costs (TORONTO STAR, 3/8).
