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opinion

The World Cup is expensive, but it’s our turn to pick up the tab

What a country this could be if the energy we put into complaining about things was redirected to doing cool stuff

Canada defender Richie Laryea, centre, pursues the ball against Tunisia in a March international friendly. Public funding to host 13 World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver will exceed $1-billion, it was announced this week.

Canada defender Richie Laryea, centre, pursues the ball against Tunisia in a March international friendly. Public funding to host 13 World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver will exceed $1-billion, it was announced this week.

Cathal Kelly

5 min read

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5 hours ago

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev, center, is congratulated by Vegas Golden Knights defensemen Rasmus Andersson, left, and Noah Hanifin during the third period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche Friday, May 22, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev, center, is congratulated by Vegas Golden Knights defensemen Rasmus Andersson, left, and Noah Hanifin during the third period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche Friday, May 22, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Golden Knights stun Avs 3-1 to lead series 2-0

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Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates with Brandon Valenzuela after scoring a run on an RBI double by Jesus Sanchez in the eighth inning.

Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates with Brandon Valenzuela after scoring a run on an RBI double by Jesus Sanchez in the eighth inning.

Pinango, Springer each drive in two runs, Gausman in form as Jays top Pirates 6-2

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8 hours ago

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Yohendrick Pinango strokes a two-run double against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Yohendrick Pinango strokes a two-run double against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

Blue Jays rookie Yohendrick Pinango makes the most of his first taste of the bigs

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Yesterday

Surrounded by Canadiens jerseys, restaurant owner Alain Creton pours a drink outside Chez Alexandre et Fils in downtown Montreal on Thursday.

Surrounded by Canadiens jerseys, restaurant owner Alain Creton pours a drink outside Chez Alexandre et Fils in downtown Montreal on Thursday.

Sports fever grips Montreal as Habs playoff run, Canadian Grand Prix converge

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Yesterday

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick celebrates after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick celebrates after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United makes Carrick permanent coach on two-year contract

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Yesterday

FILE - Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola greets fans at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford in Manchester, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)

FILE - Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola greets fans at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford in Manchester, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)

Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City after the season: ‘It’s my time’

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Yesterday

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada remains perfect in five games at the ice hockey worlds after beating Slovenia

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Yesterday

Victoria Mboko celebrates winning her semifinal match against Romania's Jaqueline Cristian on Friday at the Strasbourg International. The Canadian won 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 and will play for her third WTA Tour title against Emma Navarro of the United States.

Victoria Mboko celebrates winning her semifinal match against Romania's Jaqueline Cristian on Friday at the Strasbourg International. The Canadian won 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 and will play for her third WTA Tour title against Emma Navarro of the United States.

Canada’s struggling tennis stars look to tame clay surface at French Open

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Yesterday

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, of Italy, arrives at the Formula One auto racing Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Friday, May 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, of Italy, arrives at the Formula One auto racing Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Friday, May 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Teenage phenom Kimi Antonelli chases fourth straight F1 win at Canadian Grand Prix

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Yesterday

Canada defender Richie Laryea, centre, pursues the ball against Tunisia in a March international friendly. Public funding to host 13 World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver will exceed $1-billion, it was announced this week.

Canada defender Richie Laryea, centre, pursues the ball against Tunisia in a March international friendly. Public funding to host 13 World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver will exceed $1-billion, it was announced this week.

opinion

The World Cup is expensive, but it’s our turn to pick up the tab

Cathal Kelly

5 min read

Yesterday

Victoria Mboko celebrates her win over Jaqueline Cristian at the Strasbourg International on Friday.

Victoria Mboko celebrates her win over Jaqueline Cristian at the Strasbourg International on Friday.

Rising star Victoria Mboko reaches Strasbourg final, will play for third WTA title

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Yesterday

Cale Makar has been sidelined since he left the Colorado Avalanche's series finale against the Minnesota Wild on May 13.

Cale Makar has been sidelined since he left the Colorado Avalanche's series finale against the Minnesota Wild on May 13.

Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar remains out for Game 2 of Western Conference final

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Yesterday

Meghan Duggan, seen wearing her 2018 Olympic gold medal, is the new general manager of the PWHL's Hamilton expansion franchise.

Meghan Duggan, seen wearing her 2018 Olympic gold medal, is the new general manager of the PWHL's Hamilton expansion franchise.

Duggan leaves NHL job for Hamilton, Ryan joins San Jose from Sceptres to fill PWHL GM roles

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Yesterday

Christine Sinclair scored 190 goals for the Canadian women's national team before she retired in 2024, setting a record for both men's and women's soccer that still stands today.

Christine Sinclair scored 190 goals for the Canadian women's national team before she retired in 2024, setting a record for both men's and women's soccer that still stands today.

Animated short tells Christine Sinclair’s story in a pithy, entertaining eight minutes

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Yesterday

Alexandre Texier of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.

Alexandre Texier of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.

Canadiens make statement in Eastern final opener, roll past Hurricanes 6-2

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Yesterday

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts to hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts to hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Springer homers as Blue Jays beat Yankees 2-0

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May 21, 2026

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, of the United Kingdom, arrives at the Formula One auto racing Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Thursday, May 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, of the United Kingdom, arrives at the Formula One auto racing Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Thursday, May 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

‘Get used to it’: Hamilton here to stay as F1 arrives in Montreal

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May 21, 2026

FILE - Kyle Busch is introduced during the NASCAR All-Star auto race at Dover Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File)

FILE - Kyle Busch is introduced during the NASCAR All-Star auto race at Dover Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File)

Star NASCAR driver Kyle Busch dies at 41

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May 21, 2026

A torched charter bus being used by minor league baseball team Kane County Cougars is seen in this undated photo. The bus was torched while the team was playing a series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-Curtis Haug (Mandatory Credit)

A torched charter bus being used by minor league baseball team Kane County Cougars is seen in this undated photo. The bus was torched while the team was playing a series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-Curtis Haug (Mandatory Credit)

15-year-old girl charged with arson after U.S. minor league baseball team’s bus is torched in Winnipeg

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May 21, 2026

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the second half of Game 2 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the second half of Game 2 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

West finals shift to San Antonio, while Spurs and Thunder deal with multiple injury concerns

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May 21, 2026

Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin hoists the Walter Cup after arriving in Montreal following winning the franchise's first championship, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin hoists the Walter Cup after arriving in Montreal following winning the franchise's first championship, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Montreal Victoire make their homecoming after winning Walter Cup

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May 21, 2026

Canada's Mark Scheifele celebrates the winning goal in overtime of the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group B game between Canada and Norway, in Fribourg, Switzerland, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Anthony Anex/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Mark Scheifele celebrates the winning goal in overtime of the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group B game between Canada and Norway, in Fribourg, Switzerland, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Anthony Anex/Keystone via AP)

Scheifele completes hat trick in overtime as Canada edges Norway at world championship

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May 21, 2026

podcast

Coming Soon: Pitch and Power, a new World Cup podcast

May 21, 2026

Mercedes' George Russell drives during Formula One auto racing action at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, June 15, 2025.

Mercedes' George Russell drives during Formula One auto racing action at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, June 15, 2025.

The Canadian Grand Prix is this weekend. This is your guide to everything F1

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May 21, 2026

The best merch to snag ahead of the World Cup

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May 21, 2026

Workers prepare Toronto Stadium (temporarily renamed from BMO Field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup) in Toronto, Canada, on May 19, 2026. (Photo by Cole BURSTON / AFP via Getty Images)

Workers prepare Toronto Stadium (temporarily renamed from BMO Field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup) in Toronto, Canada, on May 19, 2026. (Photo by Cole BURSTON / AFP via Getty Images)

Taxi, ride-hailing drivers brace for World Cup traffic and antsy passengers

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May 21, 2026

How FIFA’s contracts with Toronto and Vancouver split the World Cup’s risks and rewards

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May 21, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Yesavage outduels Schlittler in marquee matchup as Blue Jays top Yankees 2-1

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May 20, 2026

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes a shot as San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle defends during the first quarter during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes a shot as San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle defends during the first quarter during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30, Thunder top Spurs 122-113 in Game 2 of West finals

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