Canada hosted 13 FIFA World Cup matches between June 12 and July 7, 2026, including games in Toronto and Vancouver. In June 2026, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International airports saw an increase of approximately 35,000 non-U.S. resident arrivals, marking an 8.7% rise compared to June 2025, according to preliminary data from Statistics Canada.
International Arrivals Surge from Overseas World Cup Nations
Air travel from 15 overseas countries that participated in the World Cup matches held in Canada rose by 32.5%, or 29,500 arrivals, in June 2026 relative to June 2025. The most significant increases occurred among visitors from Panama and Australia, highlighting these two countries as notable sources
of international travellers to the tournament host cities.
Vehicle Border Entries Reflect Upward Trend
Border crossings into Canada by both U.S. and non-U.S. residents via vehicle increased by 106,700 in June 2026 from the year before, a 7.2% rise. This growth aligns with the steady increase in vehicle entries observed during months preceding the World Cup, indicating that the tournament contributed to but did not radically alter cross-border travel patterns.
Moderate Uptick in Hospitality Spending
Spending at Toronto restaurants and bars between June 12 and June 26, 2026, increased by 3% compared with the same period in 2025, as reported by the payment processing company Moneris. Notably, spending by international visitors
using foreign-issued credit cards surged by 34% in these hospitality establishments over the same timeframe.
These figures suggest that while local businesses benefited from increased patronage, the overall boost in domestic spending was modest.
Economic Impact Forecasts Confirmed by Preliminary Data
Economists at Bank of Montreal predicted before the event that domestic spending and tourism tied to the World Cup would raise Canada’s quarterly annualized GDP by about 0.1 percentage points. Senior Bank of Montreal economist Sal Guatieri stated in an email that early travel data supports this forecast, pointing to a modest short-term economic lift from the tournament.
Preliminary evidence from official sources indicates the 2026
FIFA World Cup provided a short-lived but measurable increase in tourist arrivals and spending in Canada’s host cities of Toronto and Vancouver during June 2026.
