CITYnews halifax: FIFA World Cup final caps month-long party in Canada as host role comes to an end

CITYnews halifax / By The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — Fans are gathering in Toronto and Vancouver today to watch the World Cup soccer final between Spain and defending champion Argentina, bringing Canada’s month-long tournament celebration to a close.

Official FIFA Fan Festivals in both World Cup host cities are expected to draw thousands for public watch parties. Bars and restaurants along Vancouver’s Granville Street and in Toronto’s Liberty Village are also preparing for large crowds.

Toronto hosted six matches and Vancouver seven during the first men’s World Cup staged across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The tournament brought supporters from around the world to both Canadian cities and turned public spaces into soccer gathering places.

The championship match, expected to draw a global television audience of nearly two billion viewers, closes the first 48-team men’s World Cup and Canada’s role as a host of soccer’s biggest tournament.

While the World Cup wraps up today, the final cost of staging the tournament won’t be known for months. In May, Canada’s independent parliamentary budget officer estimated total hosting costs at about $1.066 billion, including $473 million in federal costs, projected costs of up to $729 million in British Columbia and $380 million in Toronto.