The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the City of Toronto to cut wasteful spending as freedom of information records reveal FIFA billed Toronto taxpayers over $330,000 for five months’ worth of office expenses.

“With the billions of dollars FIFA rakes in selling World Cup tickets, why should Toronto taxpayers foot the bill for their office expenses?” said Noah Jarvis, CTF Ontario Director. “Toronto politicians and bureaucrats need to learn how to say ‘no’ to FIFA bigwigs and start saving taxpayer money.”

As part of the City of Toronto’s hosting contract with FIFA, city official agreed to pay for FIFA’s office expenses in the lead up to the 2026 World Cup.

Freedom of information records exclusively obtained by the CTF show that Toronto taxpayers were billed at least $334,803 for office expenses from December 2023 to April 2024. 

Toronto taxpayers were billed $250,932 by FIFA to rent an office at the Toronto Carpet Factory for five months, an average of $50,186 per month.

FIFA billed taxpayers for 28 height-adjustable workstation tables which cost taxpayers $41,038, or $1,465 for each desk. 

FIFA also billed taxpayers for 60 office chairs, totaling $33,897, or $565 each.

The City of Toronto billed itself for an $8,937 “project management fee,” though no itemized costs or other information was included with the invoice.

The CTF requested records for FIFA’s office expenses until February 2026, but no records past April 2024 were provided.

“Taxpayers should never pay $1,465 for desks for soccer executives when families are struggling to put food on the table,” Jarvis said. “City hall bureaucrats shouldn’t be spending time helping FIFA decorate its temporary office space with expensive office furniture.

“City hall needs to rip up FIFA’s blank cheque and start saving taxpayer money.”