What to know
- Toronto Public Health says it will distribute free condoms and lubricant during the 2026 FIFA World Cup as part of its routine harm-reduction and disease-prevention efforts at large events.
- TPH cited high rates of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Toronto, noting Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections made up about 81 per cent of reported communicable diseases in preliminary 2025 data.
- The roughly $200,000 initiative has sparked mixed reactions online, with some calling it wasteful taxpayer spending and others saying it’s a standard, cost-saving public health practice.
As soccer fans begin to gear up for the FIFA World Cup this summer, Toronto Public Health [TPH] is preparing in a different way: by buying thousands of dollars in condoms and lubricant.
The government agency told Now Toronto in an email that they plan to give out $200,000 worth of free condoms and lube during the massive soccer competition.
“With the number of visitors and sports fans expected in Toronto for [the] FIFA World Cup 2026, [TPH] will be distributing free condoms and other safer sex supplies,” TPH said.
“Distributing safer sex supplies at large events such as Toronto Pride or the TO2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games is routine public health practice and aligns with existing harm reduction and disease prevention efforts.”
The agency also told Now Toronto funding for the product’s came directly from its existing operations budget.
It said events with a heightened amount of visitors present a range of public health risks, including those related to sexually transmitted infections and substance abuse.
“In Toronto, Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are among the most reported communicable diseases,” TPH explained.
“Based on preliminary 2025 data, STBBIs accounted for approximately 81 percent of all diseases of public health significance reported to TPH, including 12,072 cases of chlamydia and 6,342 cases of gonorrhea.”
Six limited-edition soccer-inspired condom wrappers designs will be available throughout the summer, alongside other sexual health public awareness campaigns.
People react to condom distributions
This decision by TPH has caused some reaction on social media.
“How does this have [to] do with soccer?” one Instagram user asked.
“[Don’t] suppose people who are travelling have the capacity to buy their supplies?,” said another Instagram user.
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Meanwhile, some people online were also questioning where TPH got the money for the sex products.
Noah Jarvis, the Ontario Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the decision was wasteful and weird.
“The last time I went to a Raptors game, or a Toronto FC game or a football game or any sporting event, the vendor generally doesn’t hand out a condom and a packet of lube to you,” Jarvis said in a video posted to X.
“If they can afford to participate or buy tickets to watch the games, they should be able to afford a couple of packs of condoms,” said a different Instagram user.
Despite TPH telling Now Toronto the funding for the products came directly from the agency’s existing operating budget, Jarvis said it was Toronto taxpayers who were footing the bill.
On the other hand, some social media users said the practice is standard.
“Why is it a waste? This happens at every large public event, Olympics, World Cups etc…and why would the city want to encourage either diseases being spread or unnecessary births??!!???,” said one Instagram user.
“Long term this saves health-care costs and promotes safe sex, good call,” said another Instagram user. “[Two-thousand dollars] is literally nothing in the budget, that’s like four kids in grade school worth of funding.”
The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 12, with the first day of matches taking place at Toronto’s BMO Field.
