Canada hosted 13 World Cup matches between June 12 and July 7, 2026, with 10 of those matches played in June. Preliminary data show an 8.7% increase in non-U.S. resident air arrivals at Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport in June 2026 compared with the same month in 2025.
Visitor Arrivals by Air and Vehicle
Statistics Canada reported that approximately 35,000 more non-U.S. residents arrived by air at Toronto Pearson and Vancouver airports in June 2026 than in June 2025. Airlift from 15 overseas countries participating in Canadian World Cup matches rose by 32.5%, or 29,500 arrivals. The largest airport arrival increases were observed
from Panama and Australia. Vehicle entries by both U.S. and non-U.S. residents into Canada grew by 106,700 in June 2026, a 7.2% rise over June 2025, reflecting established trends in cross-border travel preceding the event.
Tourism Spending in Toronto
According to Moneris payment data, spending at Toronto restaurants and bars between June 12 and 26, 2026—the period covering most June matches—rose 3% compared to the same dates in 2025. Spending by international visitors using foreign-issued credit and debit cards increased by 34%, indicating that foreign tourists contributed disproportionately to the uptick in local hospitality revenues during the World Cup.
Economic Forecasts and Impact
Bank of Montreal economists had
projected that the World Cup would add 0.1 percentage points to Canada’s quarterly annualized GDP, combining domestic spending and tourism effects. Senior economist Sal Guatieri said that the travel numbers align with these forecasts, pointing to a modest but positive economic impact from hosting World Cup matches in Canada.
While there was widespread anticipation of up to 300,000 out-of-town visitors to Toronto, the data from June 2026 reflect only a moderate increase in tourism activity in major Canadian cities. The increases in vehicle entries followed the pattern of rising border crossings seen in previous months, suggesting that cross-border travel growth
was not solely linked to the World Cup event.
