Canada's 2026 World Cup Boosts Gig Jobs and Introduces Fan ID
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be staged across Canada, the United States and Mexico, with matches in Toronto and Vancouver running from mid‑June to mid‑July. In Toronto, Harrison Staffing is recruiting 100‑150 temporary workers—primarily bartenders and bussers—for the Canada Soccer House fan zone. Founder Danny Murrell says about 30‑40 % of applicants are looking for secondary jobs, while the rest seek full‑time positions.
A survey by Employment Hero of 1,500 Canadians found 14 % would consider gig work tied to major events, with two‑thirds willing to take time off their primary job; 28 % would take unpaid leave and 39 % would use vacation days. Platforms such as Upwork, DoorDash and Uber are cited as making side work more accessible. FIFA projects up to $940 million in economic output for the Greater Toronto Area, and British Columbia estimates the tournament will generate over $1 billion in tourism over the next five years.
FIFA also launched a free physical “Fan ID” card for ticket holders, granting access to exclusive digital content, augmented‑reality messages, personalized merchandise and rewards. The card can be tapped with a smartphone at stadiums, enhancing the match‑day experience for the expected six million on‑site fans and billions of global viewers.