Canada's month-long role as a 2026 World Cup host concludes July 19 with supporters gathering in Toronto and Vancouver to watch Spain face defending champion Argentina in the final.
Official FIFA Fan Festivals in both Canadian host cities are expected to draw thousands for public screenings. The events extend the tournament atmosphere beyond the stadiums after Canada's match schedule ended.
Toronto and Vancouver prepare for final-day crowds
Bars and restaurants along Vancouver's Granville Street are preparing for a busy final, while businesses in Toronto's Liberty Village also expect large numbers of supporters. Public spaces in both cities became gathering points for local and traveling fans throughout the tournament.
Toronto hosted six matches and Vancouver staged seven during the first men's World Cup held across Canada, the United States and Mexico. The 13 Canadian fixtures brought international visitors to both cities over the course of the competition.
The Spain-Argentina final closes the first 48-team edition of the men's tournament. The championship match is expected to attract a worldwide television audience approaching two billion viewers.
Final hosting costs will take months to settle
Canada's operational role ends with the final, but the complete financial accounting will not be available immediately. An estimate from the country's independent parliamentary budget officer placed combined hosting costs at approximately $1.066 billion.
The estimate included $473 million in federal expenses. Projected costs were listed at up to $729 million for British Columbia and $380 million for Toronto.
Those figures remain estimates and do not represent a final bill. The eventual accounting will determine the full public cost of staging matches and related operations in Canada's two host cities.
A shared tournament reaches its final day
For supporters, Sunday's watch parties provide one final collective event after a month of matches and visiting fans. For organizers, the final marks the end of Canada's match-hosting phase in the expanded three-country tournament.
Spain and Argentina will decide the title, while Toronto and Vancouver close their programs with public screenings rather than another stadium fixture. The focus will then shift from tournament operations to the long-term impact and final cost of Canada's hosting role.