7 in 10 Toronto residents say World Cup cost isn't worth it
A new poll finds 70% of GTA respondents think the $1 billion public funding for World Cup matches doesn't justify the disruption and costs.
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Seventy percent of Toronto-area residents polled say hosting World Cup matches isn't worth the public cost, according to a new Angus Reid survey.
The poll, conducted May 7–11 among 1,803 Canadian adults, found similar skepticism in Vancouver (72%), where Canada is also hosting games. The survey pointed to street closures, security perimeters, and disrupted summer events as key complaints.
Residents also expressed doubt about who benefits: around 80 percent in both cities believe FIFA, sponsors, and big business will come out ahead. Only about a third in each city trust their municipal government will be transparent about the total cost when the final bill arrives.
Disinterest in actually watching matches ran high — 59 percent of Toronto respondents said they're disinterested in viewing any games, compared to 51 percent in Vancouver.
Overall, 47 percent of GTA respondents called the World Cup a "poor investment" for the city, while just 20 percent said it was a good one.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 and runs through July 19, with Toronto hosting six of Canada's 13 matches. The city is in the middle of preparations including street closures downtown and heightened security around venue zones.