Host cities including Toronto, Canada, are attempting to profit from reselling tickets to offset the costs of the 2026 World Cup.
This financial strategy comes as municipalities face immense pressure to avoid using property-tax revenue to fund the tournament. With the event underway this month, the ability to recoup costs is a primary concern for local governments across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Hosting the World Cup requires an investment of billions of dollars [1]. While the event brings global visibility and tourism, the direct costs of infrastructure and security often outweigh the immediate returns for the cities involved. To mitigate these losses, some administrations are exploring ways to monetize ticket allocations.
In Toronto, officials said they have looked toward reselling tickets as a mechanism to ensure the city does not bear the full financial burden of the event [2]. This approach aims to shift the cost from the public ledger to the private market, where high demand for matches can drive prices upward.
However, the strategy is not without risk. The pursuit of profit through ticket sales occurs alongside reports of scams, including fake websites and fraudulent payment requests targeting fans [3]. These issues complicate the effort to maintain a secure and profitable ticketing environment.
Despite these efforts, the overall financial return for host cities remains uncertain. The scale of the spending involved means that ticket resales may only cover a fraction of the total expenditure [1]. Local governments continue to balance the prestige of hosting a global event with the reality of its high price tag [2].
“Hosting the World Cup costs billions of dollars.”
The attempt by host cities to profit from ticket resales highlights the systemic financial risk associated with 'mega-events.' When the cost of hosting reaches billions, the economic benefit often shifts toward the governing body—in this case, FIFA—while the municipal hosts are left to manage the debt and infrastructure costs through creative, and sometimes volatile, revenue streams.
