Toronto will host Canada's first-ever FIFA World Cup match at BMO Field in 2026. The tournament will kick off on 11 June and will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the US.

Pioneering Toronto

Toronto will host Canada's first-ever FIFA World Cup match at BMO Field in 2026. The tournament, co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States, will kick off on June 11, with Toronto hosting six matches, including Canada's inaugural match on June 12. To meet FIFA requirements, BMO Field stadium will be expanded to 45,000 seats.

Hosting the event is expected to bring significant economic benefits, estimated at $393 million to GDP and the creation of more than 3,600 jobs. Toronto's mayor, Olivia Chow, emphasised that the event provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the city's multicultural character and enthusiasm for football. It is estimated that the event will attract millions of fans from around the world, benefiting not only the sport, but also promoting Toronto as a dynamic and welcoming city. Those fans who love football regularly attend stadiums not only in Toronto, but some prefer online entertainment, like live dealer casino where they take advantage of exclusive games.

© Amir Delic (cc: by-nc-sa)

2026 World Cup in Canada – why so special?

It is a huge success for the national team, still taking its first steps into serious international competition. On the other hand, organizing such a big tournament is a major challenge. Fortunately, Canada has experience in hosting sports events.

Also, there are several impressive stadiums such as BC Place squeezed between the skyscrapers of Vancouver, and BMO Field standing by the very shore of Lake Ontario. Both venues will be hosting matches during the 2026 World Cup, providing safe and high-quality infrastructure. Besides, the country is an attractive tourist destination, which will certainly add to the atmosphere of the tournament.

© mosi - always on tour

FIFA 2026 World Cup format

The upcoming tournament will feature 48 teams divided into 12 groups of 4. Two teams from each group will be promoted to the next stage of the competition, together with the eight best third-placed teams. It means that 32 teams will meet in the second stage. It is worth remembering that the initial 2026 World Cup format was slightly different. The 48 teams were supposed to get divided into 16 groups of 3.

However, the FIFA Council decided to revise this arrangement. As FIFA's official website states, the new format mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all the teams play a minimum of three matches while providing balanced rest time between competing teams.