"The world doesn't stop for a World Cup and neither does the football." That's CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani, and he's not wrong — though it's worth understanding exactly what keeps the machine running. The answer is US$13-billion.
That's FIFA's forecast revenue for the 2023-26 budget cycle, a 72 per cent increase over the previous period, driven largely by the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup. The cycle after that — 2027-2030 — is already projected to hit US$14-billion. When the numbers look like that, preparations don't stall. They accelerate.
Stadiums, grass and a Messi cameo
On the ground in Canada, things are moving. BC Place in Vancouver will start having its artificial turf replaced with natural grass immediately after the Whitecaps host Colorado Rapids on April 25. BMO Field in Toronto gets handed over to FIFA on May 13, with BC Place following between May 13 and 15.
Before that handover, Toronto FC's May 9 home game against Inter Miami doubles as a test event — meaning Lionel Messi's visit opens the new temporary seating at BMO Field ahead of the tournament. Accidental marketing, maybe, but it's a useful dress rehearsal with one of the sport's biggest names in the building.
Montagliani wants natural grass to remain at BC Place beyond the World Cup, though he was candid about the odds. "If I was a betting man, probably not" — given the venue's multi-use nature and the government body that runs it. Anyone backing a permanent grass switch at BC Place probably isn't getting great value.
Who's playing in Canada — and what it costs them
Fifteen nations play group stage matches on Canadian soil: Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Iraq, Ivory Coast, New Zealand, Panama, Qatar, Senegal, Switzerland and Turkey. FIFA is working to ensure tax treatment is consistent across all three host nations, helping countries without existing tax treaties with Canada or the U.S. apply for equivalent provisions.
That matters because the financial stakes for participating nations are real. Each team receives US$1.5-million in preparation money, with prize money running from US$9-million for group-stage exits up to US$50-million for the winner. Several European teams have already reportedly asked UEFA to lobby FIFA over the cost burden of participation — a sign that even at these prize levels, the expenses aren't trivial.
On the fan side, a free travelling festival — "Canada Celebrates the FIFA World Cup 2026" — will hit 38 stops across 34 communities between June 1 and July 19, featuring live match screenings, music, food and cultural programming. It's the first of its kind at a World Cup, tested last week in Victoria, and Montagliani says FIFA intends to replicate the model at future tournaments.
June 11 is the kick-off date. According to chief tournament officer Peter Montopoli, the stadiums will be ready. The money certainly is.
