FIFA World Cup 2026 is putting Canada on the world stage, and the cost is real: BC alone is on the hook for up to $114 million after revenue offsets, and a two-hot-dog-two-pop combo just got discounted to $51.75. The numbers are what they are.

What the numbers don’t capture is a Japanese fan in front of a camera who says he cannot speak English, then says he is excited, then says Japan, and means all of it completely. Or the 6-nothing win over Qatar that had fans inside the stadium comparing it to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The conversation underneath all of it is simpler than the economics: social media keeps telling people they are broken, their relationships are failing, and everything is getting worse. The World Cup keeps producing evidence to the contrary.

Topics: FIFA World Cup 2026, Canada soccer pride, World Cup hosting costs, fan experience, social media negativity

Originally aired on2026-06-24