The making of a World Cup

Summary

Business Daily: The Making of a World Cup

BBC World Service | Host: Megan Lawton | Aired: December 4, 2025

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Overview:

This episode dives deep into the business, logistics, and promises behind hosting the largest FIFA Men’s World Cup to date, co-organized by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. With preparations in full swing for the 2026 tournament—set to be the first spread across three countries and 48 teams—the episode explores the immense costs, anticipated economic benefits, infrastructure challenges, and the mixed legacy of hosting mega sporting events.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights:

1. Setting the Scene: Toronto’s World Cup Preparations

• Host: Megan Lawton visits Toronto’s under-construction stadium, joined by event planner Sharon Bolenbach ([01:34]).
• Toronto will host 6 matches, including Canada’s opener, with extensive upgrades underway:
  • $150 million CAD “facelift” to expand capacity from ~28,000 to 45,000 through temporary seating ([04:23]).
  • Local pride emphasized: “How do we put a Toronto stamp on it so people…really feel some ownership and some pride about hosting this event.” – Sharon Bolenbach ([03:28]).

Notable Quote:

“It’s the biggest global sporting event in the world.”
– Sharon Bolenbach, [01:34]

2. Urban Infrastructure and Mobility Challenges

• Traffic is a top concern: Toronto expects up to 300,000 World Cup visitors ([04:50]).
• Solutions: Early planning for expanded transit, extended operating hours, encouragement to use rideshare/bike-share, and pedestrian access ([05:07]).
  • “Probably outside of any operational element, we started work on our mobility plan earlier than anything else.” – Sharon Bolenbach ([05:07])

3. Economics of Hosting a World Cup

• Significant investment: Toronto’s hosting expected to cost C$275 million (US$200M+) ([06:10]).
• Mixed academic evidence:
  • Some studies (e.g., Journal of Sports Economics) suggest little long-term economic gain from past World Cups.
  • Others (like Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism) report significant short-term boosts ([06:10]).
• Local perspective: The city sees the event as an opportunity for “legacy elements” like jobs and event management experience ([06:53]).

Notable Quote:

“There will be thousands of people who will be trained and part of this event. That creates job opportunities down the road.”
– Sharon Bolenbach, [06:53]

4. Canadian Economic Forecasts

• Expert: Jeff Harris, Deloitte ([07:50]).
• Estimates for Canada:
  • Around C$1.9 billion in spending ([08:05])
  • C$3.8 billion in economic output, C$2 billion GDP gain, ~24,100 jobs, and C$700M in government revenue ([08:11]).
  • “A very significant and notable impact.” – Jeff Harris ([08:53])
• Trickle-down effect: Each visitor’s spending amplifies through supply chains: restaurants, suppliers, landlords, transit, and entertainment ([08:57]).

5. US Host Challenges: Security, Visas, and Costs

• Expert: Tory Barnes, travel & transport specialist ([12:26]).
• Visa backlog: Long wait times, especially for non-waiver countries (e.g. Brazil, Argentina). Fast-tracking planned; new consular staff deployed ([13:07]).
• Cost barriers: Strong US dollar and potential new $250 visa integrity fee per visitor ([13:24]).
• Border reputation: The US working to improve its image as a welcoming host; Brand USA campaign in action ([14:52]).
  • “The President has said himself…he wants the World cup to be the best games that…have ever been held.” – Tory Barnes ([15:25])

6. Climate and Risk Management

• Expert: Dr. Maddy Orr, sport ecologist ([15:48]).
• Weather risks: Anticipated extreme heat, storms, or wildfires during the tournament ([15:48]).
• Cost implications: Higher expenses for medical supplies, cooling tech; even higher if events get delayed or cancelled—potential for ticket refunds, staff pay, legal liability ([16:12], [16:40]).
• Safety above all: “Those costs do not come close to approaching the cost of paying out liability insurance or life insurance if a person were to die on site.” – Dr. Maddy Orr ([17:14])

7. Mexico’s World Cup Plans

• Expert: Isabel Woodford, Guardian freelance journalist ([17:30]).
• Mexico City’s infrastructure challenge: Azteca Stadium is a 45-minute drive from city center; government investing in new train and bus routes ([18:00]).
• $7 billion USD injection projected; Mexico City investing $250 million in infrastructure ([18:46]).
• Skepticism about long-term benefits: Like other emerging market hosts, the macroeconomic impact is uncertain, though a short-term tourism and spending spike is certain ([19:02]).

Notable Quote:

“The evidence around World Cups and meg-events…is actually quite questionable…when it comes to seeing a country, particularly a poorer country, elevate as a result.”
– Isabel Woodford, [19:02]

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Memorable Moments & Quotes:

• “It’s the biggest global sporting event in the world.” – Sharon Bolenbach ([01:34])
• “We started work on our mobility plan earlier than anything else.” – Sharon Bolenbach ([05:07])
• “A very significant and notable impact to the Canadian economy.” – Jeff Harris ([08:53])
• “The President has said…he wants the World Cup to be the best games that have ever been held.” – Tory Barnes ([15:25])
• “Those costs do not come close to… the cost of paying out life insurance if a person were to die on site.” – Dr. Maddy Orr ([17:14])
• “The evidence…is actually quite questionable… particularly for a poorer country.” – Isabel Woodford ([19:02])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Toronto stadium and Sharon Bolenbach interview: [01:34]–[07:37]
• Jeff Harris, Deloitte on economic impacts: [07:41]–[09:51]
• US visa/travel challenges with Tory Barnes: [12:26]–[15:41]
• Climate risk and costs with Dr. Maddy Orr: [15:48]–[17:25]
• Preparations and promise in Mexico with Isabel Woodford: [17:30]–[19:57]

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Tone and Style

True to the BBC World Service, the episode maintains an authoritative yet approachable tone, blending factual reporting with a genuine curiosity about local impacts and global stakes, and peppered with thoughtful insights and moments of levity from guests.

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Summary

This episode of Business Daily paints a nuanced picture of the complexities behind hosting a modern World Cup—from billion-dollar investments and ambitious infrastructure projects to navigating border politics, climate risks, and the delicate balance of real legacy versus fleeting economic gains. As experts and city planners prepare to welcome the world, listeners get a candid look at the hopes, hurdles, and hard numbers shaping football’s biggest stage in 2026.

Transcript

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[Megan Lawton]

Hello, and welcome to Toronto's Football World cup stadium and today's Business Daily.

[Interviewer]

Okay, I'll just wait for this helicopter to pass on by who's trying to catch a view before it all begins.

[Megan Lawton]

I'm Megan Lawton, and with less than a year to go until the FIFA Men's World cup, we're going behind the scenes.

[Interviewer]

We're recording this in September come June. Tell me about how this empty stadium described the atmosphere you would like to have.

[Sharon Bolenbach]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. That kind of makes my heart flutter a little bit. It's the biggest global sporting event in the world.

[Megan Lawton]

A record 48 countries are competing, with millions attending games across North America, Billions watching at home. Today we'll find out what it costs to host a World Cup.

[Jeff Harris]

We're estimating that approximately $1.9 billion will be spent in this country with the planning, preparation, the. And just the overall experiencing of the.

[Megan Lawton]

World cup and whether that investment pays off for the local economy.

[Isabel Woodford]

And this is the question that locals have, which is what development will they see.

[Megan Lawton]

The business of hosting a World cup that's coming up on Business Daily.

Whether you call it football or soccer. Next summer, the U.S. mexico and Canada will host the FIFA Men's World Cup. It's the first time three countries have organized the tournament. Canadian cities will host 13 matches over in Vancouver and here at the Toronto soccer stadium, which hosts Canada's opening game.

[Interviewer]

Thank you so much.

[Megan Lawton]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Let's take a seat out here. Great.

[Megan Lawton]

The stadium is still under construction. As I take A seat in the stands with Sharon Bolenbach.

[Sharon Bolenbach]

So I'm leading the team at the city of Toronto that is charged with the planning and delivery of the World cup here in the city. And so I'm honored, I'm thrilled. Every day I learn every day I'm challenged to be working on this project and to be bringing this amazing event to our city.

[Interviewer]

And when you first took on this role, how big was the to do list?

[Sharon Bolenbach]

Well, I think when you come on a big project like this, obviously it's the detail, right? And when you start on the projects, it's big picture, it's big concepts, its strategy. And then as we get closer and closer and that clock is ticking down, it becomes more about detail and you get into the finite minutiae of the planning. So long list of to do's when I started and really thinking about strategy and what we want this event to be, not only for FIFA and meeting the FIFA requirements of a World cup, but for our city and how do we put a Toronto state stamp on it so that people here in Toronto, Ontario and Canada as a whole really feel some ownership and some pride about hosting this event.

[Interviewer]

So to set the scene, it's a shame we're a radio because we, we have the whole stadium, we have the BMO stadium to ourselves. If I look out, you've got the kind of stands to the left to the in front of us. It's a very nice, gorgeous sunny day in Toronto and this, this stadium has been described as having a glow up. There's work to be done on this stadium to the tune I think of it's of 150 million Canadian or what will that facelift quote unquote involve?

[Sharon Bolenbach]

Well, one of the biggest project that's happening here is our capital work around adding additional temporary seating. So to meet right now the stadium capacity sits at around 28 ish thousand. And to meet FIFA requirements, minimum requirements for a World cup host, we have to be around 45. So we are adding temporary seating at both the north and south ends of our stadium. It's a big project.

[Interviewer]

Toronto is a great city, but it's known for being a city of traffic. You will have some estimates suggest 300,000 fans coming into this city for the duration of the World Cup. How do you ensure that the Toronto locals who are still going about their day and doing their commute and all these fans are not going to be stuck in gridlock?

[Sharon Bolenbach]

Yeah, that's a great question and probably one I get asked the most because traffic is something that's top of mind for people here in the city and when people come to visit. So probably outside of any operational element, we started work on our mobility plan sort of earlier than anything else. We're working with all public transit agencies to provide additional service, additional access capacity, extending length of time that cars and transit are operating. So there's a number of things we're doing there. We'd also encourage people to walk and you know, we're in close to downtown Toronto. We'd encourage people to walk, use rideshare.

We're upping sort of opportunity for people to grab bike share opportunities as well. So the mobility plan includes a number of elements that will really again, the aim of which is to keep people moving in a safe, orderly and efficient way.

[Megan Lawton]

The city of Toronto, along with the provincial and federal governments has invested a lot of money to host part of the World Cup. Some estimates suggest it's around US$275 million. Naturally, investing so much comes with criticism. A 2022 paper in the Journal of Sports Economics found little lasting boost to jobs or or GDP with past hosts like South Africa and Brazil seeing almost no net gain. But other studies, including Brazil's Ministry of Tourism reported a short term GDP boost and big tourism inflows showing the gains may be real, just temporary.

[Sharon Bolenbach]

I know there's, you know, a lot of people who question that investment and there's no question it's a big investment and you know, we're hosting, we want to welcome the world. We, we want to be shoulder to shoulder along with the other 15 host cities. It's more than the six matches we will host throughout the tournament. It is about what this event can do for our city long term. We will have a whole like thousands of people who will be trained and part of this event. That creates, you know, job opportunities down the road for people and experience in running an event. So there's a number of elements that, that will be legacy elements that we're very focused on equally as we are with the elements and operations of the tournament.

[Interviewer]

Thank you so much for your time.

[Megan Lawton]

Good luck.

[Sharon Bolenbach]

Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

[Megan Lawton]

A short train ride from Toronto's World cup stadium, I'm heading to meet sports events guru Jeff Harris.

[Jeff Harris]

I'm a partner at Deloitte and a member of our global Deloitte Sports Executive Committee.

[Megan Lawton]

From where he's been crunching the numbers, working with football federations, government bodies and major sponsors to get Canada ready for the World Cup.

[Jeff Harris]

We're estimating that approximately $1.9 billion Canadian.

[Megan Lawton]

That'S around a million US dollars will.

[Jeff Harris]

Be spent in this country associated with the planning, preparation, the hosting and just the overall experiencing of the World Cup. Now what does that mean from an economic benefits perspective is we forecast that expenditure has a potential to catalyze 3.8 billion in economic output, 2 billion in GDP, the sustainment and preservation and creation of 24,100 jobs, 1.3 billion of labor income being supported through those jobs, and approximately $700 million of government revenue. So a very significant and notable impact to the Canadian economy.

[Megan Lawton]

As Geoff explains, this comes largely in the form of visiting fans.

[Jeff Harris]

So a traveling fan comes to Toronto and sits down, has a meal at a restaurant. The restaurant is going to benefit from that individual sitting down having a meal. But as well as their supply chain. So grocery stores, wholesalers, farmers, equipment and appliance manufacturers, the landlord of the property, all receive an economic boost from that buying of a meal. With that individual coming having a meal, being one of many who will do that over the course of a World cup, that individual earns wages for their activity and providing that service. They will then take that income and as part of their regular household expenditures plus other special expenditures. So whether that be, you know, clothing, movies and entertainment, public transit, all of those organizations, businesses that are providing that services, they too will receive an economic boost.

[Megan Lawton]

This is Business Daily from the BBC World Service.

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[Megan Lawton]

I'm Megan Lawton. Today, the cost of hosting a World Cup.

If this summer's FIFA Club World cup is anything to keep go by, it's likely we'll see plenty of President Trump at the World Cup.

[Guardian Bikes Advertiser]

President Trump embraced the soccer spotlight. That's putting it mildly over the weekend, helping crown Chelsea as FIFA Club World cup champion.

[Megan Lawton]

The president remained alongside the Chelsea football team despite some confused looks from the players as they lifted the Club World cup trophy. FIFA has said it's uniting with President Trump ahead of the event.

[Guardian Bikes Advertiser]

Soccer's governing body even went so far as to open an office in Trump Tower.

[Megan Lawton]

The 2026 tournament is split between Canada, Mexico and the United States, but it's the latter that will host the most games, including the final. So how ready is the US to welcome an estimated six and a half million spectators?

[Tory Barnes]

I think that there are likely three things that are at issue and that the government, I think rightly is focused on fixing.

[Megan Lawton]

Tory Barnes is a Washington, D.C. based travel and transport expert.

[Tory Barnes]

Number one, we do have very long visa wait times to get into the US So if you're coming from a visa waiver program country, you would be fine, right? If you're coming from the UK or elsewhere in Europe or one of the other 42 countries that you can travel to the US visa free. But many countries that have teams that would qualify for the World cup, like Brazil, Argentina, most in South America will require a visa for visitors to come here.

[Megan Lawton]

Since I last spoke with Tory, the US Government has announced plans to fast track ticket holders for visa screenings to handle the surge in applications. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says his department has deployed more than 400 additional consular officers worldwide.

[Tory Barnes]

There's also been sort of a mixed signals from Congress on visa fees. The visa integrity fee that was included in the recent reconciliation bill would cost the Traveler $250 if it's implemented prior to the World cup per traveler. So for a family of four, you know, that's an additional $1,000 to come.

[Megan Lawton]

To the US number two on Tori's.

[Tory Barnes]

List, it is expensive to come to the US right now with the strength of the dollar. Adding additional fees, like I just mentioned on the visa side kind of compounds the challenges that we have from an economic standpoint. We want to be able to welcome those visitors and lastly, the connectivity we have is really strong within the United States. Right. But some of the challenges that we have when you come into the country. So custom wait times, for example, if we could get all of the Americans kind of out of the line, we should have a global entry like process for all Americans so that our CBP officers can really focus on those international visitors to get those wait times down.

[Megan Lawton]

Tory as of late, the US border hasn't had the best reputation for welcoming people.

[Guardian Bikes Advertiser]

New trouble from abroad.

[Tory Barnes]

There's a sharp decline in international visitors.

[Sharon Bolenbach]

To the U.S. tougher border controls and.

[Guardian Bikes Advertiser]

Political tensions are blamed.

[Megan Lawton]

Do you see the World cup as an opportunity to reset expectations that people can holiday, can visit the US without worry?

[Tory Barnes]

Yeah, I mean, I think that there are a lot of efforts underway to ensure that international visitors feel welcome. You know, Brand usa, which is a public private partnership, is really tasked with promoting the US internationally. So I know that they're working hard to do that. The President has said himself publicly that he wants the World cup to be the best games that, that have ever been held. And also having them take place during America's 250th birthday is certainly an opportunity to continue in a proactive, pro visitor type of, of environment. I think what we've seen from this government, now, from the Trump administration, is, you know, we've heard him say he wants people to come here and he wants people to enjoy these games.

[Megan Lawton]

But experiencing all that America has to offer may also include one of its toughest realities, the weather.

[Dr. Maddy Orr]

It is very likely that we see massive challenges with extreme heat in particular next summer. It's also very possible to see challenges with storms and, and, or wildfire activity, depending on what part of the country you're in.

[Megan Lawton]

Dr. Maddy Orr is a sport ecologist at the University of Toronto. Her research looks at the impacts of climate on sport.

[Dr. Maddy Orr]

There's a few different cost implications associated with heat and storms and climate risks. The big ones actually have more to do with potential revenue loss. So there are cost implications with regard to medical supplies you would need on site, like cooling technology and something simple like a body thermometer, for example.

[Megan Lawton]

But the biggest cost, Dr. Maddy explains, is the potential revenue losses.

[Dr. Maddy Orr]

So if you were to cancel, postpone or delay an event, you might run into some issues with regard to whether you have to refund tickets, for example, whether you're paying out staff who have had to come to the site and prepare for the event and work. But then there's no or, it's not as long as they thought it would Be you may run into challenges with legal liability for events that don't go off as planned. That said, those costs do not come close to approaching the cost of paying out liability insurance or life insurance if a person were to die on site. So that's the balance that is being discussed behind closed doors at places like FIFA hq.

[Megan Lawton]

So that's Canada and the us but how is Mexico preparing for next year's tournament?

[Isabel Woodford]

So I am Isabel Woodford and I am a freelancer for the Guardian.

[Megan Lawton]

Isabelle, there's a big event coming up next year. Are you a football fan?

[Isabel Woodford]

I should say yes to this because my dad is a Scouser. So yeah, for all intents and purposes, I am a football fan. But don't quiz me.

[Megan Lawton]

Formerly based in Mexico's capital, this summer Isabel returned to her old patch to cover preparations for the upcoming World Cup. The country is hosting 13 games in the capital, capital city Guadalajara and Monterrey.

[Isabel Woodford]

The opening of the entire World cup will be in Mexico City in the Azteca. And for anyone who's been to Mexico City, it is a sprawling metropolis, a beautiful city, but certainly in terms of infrastructure has its gaps. So what they're doing in the city is they're investing quite heavily now in trying to connect the Azteca stadium, which currently is about a 45 minute drive just in a car from what we would deem to be the center of Mexico City. So if you're staying at a hotel, it would be at least 45 minutes and that's in a direct car. So the government are aware of that. They are currently kind of investing in a new train link and a new bus kind of route. But one of the grievances from the local community is that that route doesn't actually fix their problems when it comes to connecting with the city.

[Megan Lawton]

The Mexican government estimates the World cup will see up to a 7 billion US dollar injection into the country. Mexico City alone expects to invest $250 million in infrastructure along with prom jobs and improved services.

[Isabel Woodford]

Yeah, you know, for the Mexican government, this is a good news story. There is going to be an immense amount of tourism coming to the country and indeed Mexico City. Small businesses will be expecting, you know, this huge arrival of foreigners ready to spend their dollars. But the funny thing is, is the evidence around World Cups and mega events from the Brazilian, the South African Games. The evidence is actually quite questionable on this when it comes to seeing a country, particularly a poorer country, ele as a result, the macro picture is this is very good news. I think the evidence about what that actually means from an economic perspective or the precedent that we have for that isn't that strong. But certainly the Mexican government are very excited about this. They say that there'll be a seven billion dollar injection into the country as a result and as I say, there will certainly be a lot of tourists coming and ready to spend their money, at least in terms of short term economic boost.

[Megan Lawton]

Thank you to Isabel and all of my guests. You've been listening to Business Daily on the BBC World Service with me, Megan Lawton. This episode was produced by Sam Grouet. You can find more episodes wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

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Who drives the world forward? The one with the answers or the one asking the right questions? At Aramco, we start every day by asking how? How can innovation help deliver reliable energy to the world world? How can technology help develop new materials to reshape cities? How can collaboration help us overcome the biggest challenges? To get to the answer, we first need to ask the right question. Search Aramco Powered by How Aramco is an energy and chemicals company with oil and gas production as its primary business.