Originally promised to be free, Toronto now wants to charge for FIFA Fan Fest

The City of Toronto is now looking to charge for tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup fan festival, despite previously promising access to the event would be free.

The event in Fort York will have space for as many as 20,000 people, who will be able to watch live matches and performances, and sample food from around the city.

In a news release issued in May 2025, the city billed the festival as a “free and inclusive space for residents and visitors to connect through the power of sport.”

The city now wants to charge $10 for general admission, $100 for a “VIP tier 3,” $150 for a second-tier VIP ticket and $300 for a first-tier VIP ticket, according to a staff recommendation before the executive committee Wednesday. 

City staff are seeking council approval to spend $9 million more to improve the fan experience and increase security at the festival, but doing so would push the cost beyond the $380 million budget. The proposal calls for the city to use ticket revenue to partially offset the expenditure, according to city documents. 

“Ticketing actually gives organizers and emergency services better data to plan effectively,” Toronto Mayor Oliva Chow said while speaking to reporters Wednesday. 

“The worry is if it's free. I think that was conversation: how many people would show up? Would it be, would it overwhelm the area? 

Your guide to Toronto's FIFA World Cup — tickets, game times and traffic

Chow noted that the city has given grants to organizations like BIAs to hold events celebrating the tournament outside of the downtown core. That would give the fans other ways to take part in festivities.

The ticket revenue is expected to generate about $6.2 million of the $9 million expenditure, with the rest of the money being