FIFA Gets the Profits. Canadians Get the Bill.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here and Canada is on a roll! But as the excitement builds on the pitch, we're asking the tough questions: will this massive event actually deliver the economic win that was promised?In this episode, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux dive into the real costs of hosting the world's biggest party. They break down the billion-dollar price tags, FIFA's business model, and whether taxpayers are getting stuck with the bill while others reap the rewards. (Producer note: This episode was recorded on June 5th, 2026.)Topics covered:The economics of hosting the FIFA World CupWhy economists question projected economic benefitsPublic spending on stadiums, security, and infrastructureTourism displacement and local business impactsHousing, short-term rentals, and affordability concernsFIFA's revenue model and tax treatmentTransit, traffic, and quality-of-life effects for residentsLessons from previous World Cup host countriesDynamic ticket pricing and the changing fan experienceIf you enjoy thoughtful discussions on housing, infrastructure, public policy, and the economic issues affecting Canada's middle class, subscribe for more episodes from The Missing Middle.Chapters:00:00 The World Cup's Economic Myth00:49 The Benefits Nobody Talks About03:32 Can Hosting the World Cup Actually Lose Money?05:11 Why More Tourists Doesn't Mean More Growth07:00 Who's Really Paying the $1 Billion Bill?08:23 FIFA's Billion-Dollar Business Model09:19 Cities Pay, FIFA Profits10:39 The Tax Breaks You Didn't Know About12:27 The Hidden Costs for Residents15:21 What Past World Cups Teach Us17:07 Are These Games Worth the Price?17:49 Why World Cup Tickets Are Exploding in Cost19:22 The People's Game or a VIP Experience?Research:BMO Capital Markets -- Canada World Cup GDP boost (up to $6.5B):https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/bmo-world-cup-2026-set-to-deliver-up-to-c65-billion-economic-boost-for-canada/392593The World Cup is expensive, but it’s our turn to pick up the tabhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-the-world-cup-is-expensive-but-its-our-turn-to-pick-up-the-tab/ProPublica -- 'You do, you pay, we take': how FIFA's host city deals work:https://www.propublica.org/article/world-cup-2026-host-cities-revenue-houstonCBC -- FIFA/Deloitte economic impact assessment for Canada ($3.8B figure):https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/world-cup-2026-canada-fifa-economic-benefits-1.7406435 BNN Bloomberg -- Why economic impact on Vancouver and Toronto may never be known:https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/economics/2026/05/11/blind-side-why-world-cup-economic-impact-on-vancouver-and-toronto-may-never-be-known/Bloomberg Tax -- FIFA 2026 World Cup tax demands on host countries:https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-management-international/fifa-2026-world-cup-blows-the-whistle-on-complex-tax-risksCP24 -- Toronto holds transit fares steady; NJ Transit $48M bill; Boston $80 game-day fare:https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/04/16/toronto-will-not-hike-cost-of-transit-during-world-cup-as-other-host-cities-announce-big-fare-increases-to-venues/ESPN -- World Cup ticket sticker shock and dynamic pricing:https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48947095/2026-fifa-world-cup-sticker-shock-ugly-cost-beautiful-game-grand-eventVictor Matheson / Holy Cross -- The Economics of the World Cup (academic; stadium white elephants, tourism overestimates):https://hcapps.holycross.edu/hcs/RePEc/hcx/HC1805-Matheson_WorldCup.pdfHosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina MaddeauxProduced by Meredith MartinFunded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/