WATCH: Tourism minister maintains hosting World Cup 'absolutely' worth it

VANCOUVER — With the group stage of the 2026 World Cup now complete, just two matches are left to be played at BC Place.

Tourism and Sport Minister Anne Kang said Monday that with half the tournament in the books, hosting has been worth the high price tag.

"Absolutely," Kang said when asked by a reporter during a press conference in Vancouver. "This is an investment to our province — not just for the seven games we’re hosting here at BC Place. This is about tourism, it's about sports bringing communities together."

She argued that hosting the World Cup will usher in a tourism boom that will see British Columbia double its revenue from the sector over the next five years. Currently, BC brings in $23 billion annually, which adds $8 billion to the GDP.

The event is also projected to have an impact on

"We have heard from not-for-profit organizations and youth and children's sports teams that these games are really inspiring them," Kang said. "This gives us an opportunity to leave legacies with them. That includes 20 mini pitches that we have in partnership with the Whitecaps and VS Sport."

She also cited the upgrades made to BC Place will "provide opportunities for us to be competitive worldwide to welcome conventions, world-class singers and actors to be coming."

Prior to the first match, Premier David Eby revealed that hosting the World Cup would cost British Columbians an estimated $729 million. When projected revenues, recoveries, and contributions — 80% of which are already locked in — are taken into account, the total net cost falls to between $90 million and $114 million.