TORONTO —
Police presence in Toronto during the World Cup may be “stronger than we’ve ever seen at any event,” the force said Wednesday as the federal government announced up to $145 million for security over the upcoming soccer tournament.
Canada is co-hosting the international competition with the United States and Mexico, and 13 matches are scheduled to take place in Toronto and Vancouver this June and July.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said welcoming World Cup crowds will require a massive co-ordinated effort, and the new funding will go toward ensuring law enforcement agencies have the resources they need.
“To the millions of fans who plan on visiting from around the globe, Canada is ready to host you,” he told a news conference Wednesday at BMO Field, which will be temporarily renamed Toronto Stadium for the tournament.
The funding aims to reduce financial pressure on the host cities and provinces and comes in response to “specific operational needs” they have identified, the federal government said in a news release.
Officials at Wednesday’s announcement provided few details regarding their plans, however.
Toronto is set to receive up to $45 million, primarily for policing expenses, Anandasangaree said. British Columbia Premier David Eby later said in Victoria that the province will receive about $100 million, and his government will offer a full breakdown of the final security costs in the coming weeks.
The Toronto police officer overseeing World Cup-related security matters said he didn’t know how much the force is poised to receive and couldn’t say where the new money would go.
“But one thing I can assure you is that the money will enhance security and safety, but it will also enhance our ability to … maintain our services across the city,” Supt. Dave Ecklund said.
Come June, Torontonians will see essentially the “entire Toronto Police Service” working to support the event, he said, adding that the force is preparing for a massive response to control traffic and deter crime.
Mayor Olivia Chow said the city’s safety plans apply to more than just the stadium that will eventually host soccer stars and fans alike, extending to training sites and community events throughout the city like the FIFA fan festival.
“Today’s federal announcement adds to that foundation and let us go further, supporting our police, paramedics, firefighters and crisis workers, transit partners and public safety teams with the resources they need to do this work,” she said.
Most of the money is earmarked for Vancouver because of increased staffing costs in the city, with about 800 police officers expected to come in from other jurisdictions to help manage the event, the public safety minister said.
Vancouver is also hosting one more game than Toronto as well as the FIFA Congress, set to take place Thursday, Anandasangaree said.
“We wanted to make sure that the amounts are fair and reflect the actual needs of policing,” he said.
Anandasangaree said in the release that the World Cup is one of the biggest and most complicated sport events Canada has ever hosted.
Ottawa previously allocated up to $320 million for hosting the tournament.
By Kathryn Mannie in Toronto and Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2026.
The Canadian Press
