Toronto hosts the World Cup: your complete guide to six matches, Canada's squad, the Fan Festival, and getting there
Six matches at Toronto Stadium, Canada's first-ever home World Cup game, the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York, and everything you need to know about transit. This guide covers dates, squads, fan zones, and how to get there.
The first men's FIFA World Cup match ever played on Canadian soil kicks off at Toronto Stadium on Friday, June 12 at 3 p.m. ET — Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Group B. If you haven't been following closely, here is everything you actually need to know before match day.
The full Toronto match schedule
Toronto Stadium at Exhibition Place (170 Princes' Blvd, M6K 3C3) hosts six matches between June 12 and July 2, with capacity expanded to 45,736 seats through 17,000+ new temporary additions. 1
| Date | Kickoff (ET) | Match | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, June 12 | 3 p.m. | Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina | B |
| Wed, June 17 | 7 p.m. | Ghana vs. Panama | L |
| Sat, June 20 | 4 p.m. | Germany vs. Côte d'Ivoire | E |
| Tue, June 23 | 7 p.m. | Croatia vs. Panama | L |
| Fri, June 26 | 3 p.m. | Senegal vs. Iraq | I |
| Thu, July 2 | 7 p.m. | Round of 32: Group K runner-up vs. Group L runner-up | — |
Tickets for individual matches are still available through the official host city site. 2
Canada's squad: who to watch
Head coach Jesse Marsch unveiled the 26-man roster on May 29 in a primetime special broadcast on TSN, CTV, Crave, and RDS, with each player's name revealed live on the EdgeWalk at the CN Tower. 3
Canada sits in Group B alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland. Their Toronto game on June 12 is the only group-stage home match in the city; the remaining two group fixtures move to Vancouver (June 18 and June 24 at Vancouver Stadium). 3
A few players worth knowing before the opener:
- Alphonso Davies (defender, Bayern Munich) — the squad's most recognizable name internationally, grew up in Edmonton
- Jonathan David (forward, Juventus) — 26 goals in Serie A this past season, arguably the most in-form Canadian striker at any World Cup in the country's history
- Stephen Eustáquio (midfielder, FC Porto) — engine of the midfield, from Leamington, Ontario
- Jonathan Osorio (midfielder, Toronto FC) — local hero; born in Brampton, plays his club football at this exact stadium
- Richie Laryea (defender, Toronto FC) — another Toronto FC player who grew up in the city, added local dimension to the squad
The 26-man group was described by Marsch as reflecting "the many communities, cultures, and journeys that make up this country." 3 On paper, this is the deepest Canadian squad ever assembled.
FIFA Fan Festival: Fort York and The Bentway
If you don't have a match ticket, the FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto runs June 11 – July 19 at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway (250 Fort York Blvd, M5V 3K9) — about a 10-minute walk from the stadium. 4
General admission tickets were free and are now fully claimed. Premium tiers remain available through Ticketmaster:
- Garden Pavilion — $100 + taxes
- Pitchside Terrace — $150 + taxes
- Casamigos Clubhouse — $300 + taxes
The festival has three zones (The Bentway, Main Stage, Ontario Campus) and over 30 food vendors spanning cuisines from across the world. On June 12 alone, programming includes a Choir! Choir! Choir! performance (1–3 p.m.), the live match broadcast of Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (3 p.m.), and a Jessie Reyez concert at 5:45 p.m. on the Main Stage. 4
The Ontario Campus section features "Destination Ontario," a mini-golf course with holes themed around Niagara Falls, cottage country, and provincial parks. There is also a FIFA Store on-site.
Getting to the stadium
Transit is the only practical option on match days — parking near Exhibition Place is extremely limited and the surrounding road network will be managed for pedestrian flow.
Fastest routes from downtown:
- 509 Harbourfront streetcar from Union Station (Line 1) directly to Fleet Hub — new temporary stop right outside the stadium/festival grounds. On match days, routes 504 King, 509 Harbourfront, and 511 Bathurst run every five minutes. 5
- 511 Bathurst streetcar from Bathurst Station (Line 2) to Fleet Hub
- 829 Dufferin Gate Express — non-stop from Dufferin Station (Line 2) to Dufferin Gate Loop on match days only
- GO Train from Union Station to Exhibition GO Station — trains run approximately every 15 minutes through the day during the tournament 6
Walking from Union Station takes 20–25 minutes along the waterfront; the City has deployed purple wayfinding signs and volunteer guides along the route. 5
Subway service on Lines 1 and 2 is extended past its usual 1:30 a.m. cutoff on June 12, June 17, June 23, and July 2. The TTC's Blue Night Network (overnight buses and streetcars every 30 minutes) covers all other nights, with temporary new overnight routes 309 Harbourfront and 311 Bathurst added for the tournament period.
From Pearson Airport: take the UP Express to Union Station, then connect to the 509 streetcar. The Ontario One Fare integration does not apply on UP Express — budget separately for that leg.
Fare: PRESTO card or contactless payment accepted on all TTC routes. Cash is not accepted on streetcars.
The city around the matches
Toronto has leaned fully into the "The World in a City" host theme. Nathan Phillips Square in front of City Hall now carries FIFA World Cup branding and a temporary soccer pitch. 2 The city's multicultural neighbourhoods — Little Portugal around College Street, Little Italy on St. Clair West, Greektown on the Danforth — each have their own watch party cultures already built in; expect significant overflow gatherings there on Canada match days.
For real-time updates: follow @FWC26Toronto on Instagram, or join the official WhatsApp Fan Channel for instant alerts. The FIFA World Cup 2026 app (available on iOS) has live schedules and venue maps. During the tournament, follow @TTCnotices on X for live service alerts before heading out.
Accessibility note: Exhibition Loop is reserved as an accessible boarding and drop-off point on match days. Wheel-Trans visitors from other provinces and countries can access the service for up to 30 days without applying in advance. 5
References
- 1Toronto FIFA World Cup 26™ Schedule & Tickets
torontofwc26.ca
- 2
- 3Canada Soccer Announces CANMNT Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026™
news.canadasoccer.com
- 4FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto
torontofwc26.ca
- 5
- 6Take the GO Train to Toronto FIFA World Cup 2026
gotransit.com
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