FIFA World Cup: Toronto could hike hotel tax to help offset costs [Video]

It could soon cost a little more to stay in a Toronto hotel as the city is now considering a temporary hike to its Municipal Accommodation Tax as a way of helping to offset the cost of hosting the FIFA World Cup.

The cost of hosting six World Cup matches in Toronto in 2026 is pegged at $380 million but approximately $201 million of that is coming from the provincial and federal governments.

City staff say that they have already identified about $83.6 million in revenue from existing sources, including commercial right sales, rental fees and in-kind contributions.

However, that would still leave an approximately $95 million shortfall.

In a reportthat will go before city council’s FIFA World Cup committee next week, staff recommend that the existing tax on overnight hotel stays and short-term rentals be increased from six per cent to 8.5 per cent between June 1, 2025 and July 31, …