Updated: 2026-06-17 | Real-time information is subject to official announcements
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and is also the first World Cup in history expanded to 48 teams. Canada has two host cities, sharing a national total of 13 matches, of which Toronto stages 6 and Vancouver 7. For Canadian fans the significance is extraordinary: this is the first time the Canadian men’s team has reached the World Cup as a host nation, and the opening match falls in Toronto.
Toronto’s home venue is BMO Field at Exhibition Place by the lake, which appears during the tournament under the name “Toronto Stadium.” This dedicated soccer stadium was originally the home of Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts; to meet FIFA standards it has been expanded with additional seating and upgraded with new turf, lighting and security facilities. Toronto’s 6 matches span June 12 to July 2, covering the group stage and one Round of 32 knockout match, making it one of the few cities where you can watch different stages from “group to knockout” in the same stadium.
The most anticipated of all is of course Canada’s opening match: at 3:00 a.m. Taiwan time on June 13 (3:00 p.m. local time on June 12), Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field, the first official men’s match in World Cup history held on Canadian soil. The opening ceremony takes place 90 minutes before kickoff (1:30 p.m. local time), with Canadian singers such as Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette performing. Canada have been drawn into Group B, alongside Qatar and Switzerland; a reminder for Taiwanese fans is that Canada’s three group matches span the east and west coasts—the first match is in Toronto on the east coast, the latter two move to BC Place in Vancouver on the west coast, a journey of two cities and four time zones, so following the team across cities means factoring flights and time together.
Below is a summary of the Toronto venue’s fixtures to help with planning your itinerary; exact matchups and times are subject to FIFA’s official announcements:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | BMO Field (tournament name Toronto Stadium), located at Exhibition Place |
| Matches | 6 in total: Canada’s opening match + group-stage matches + 1 Round of 32 knockout match |
| Match period | June 12 to July 2, 2026 |
| Canada’s opening match | Local 6/12 15:00 (Taiwan 6/13 03:00) vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Canada’s remaining group matches | Move to BC Place in Vancouver (vs. Qatar, vs. Switzerland) |
As for getting to the stadium, BMO Field is right next to downtown. On match days the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) adds and extends service; the most convenient option is to take the 509 Harbourfront or 511 Bathurst streetcar to the temporary transfer hub on Fleet Street, then walk a few minutes to the gate. People coming in from outlying areas can also take the GO Train to Exhibition station. During the tournament the city has set up temporary transit hubs around Fleet Street, Fort York Boulevard and Strachan Avenue as the main gateways to the stadium and the fan festival. My own experience in Toronto is that driving into the lakeside area on match days is extremely painful—parking is hard to find and expensive—so take public transit whenever you can.
Don’t despair if you didn’t get tickets. The official FIFA Fan Festival is set up at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway, running from June 11 all the way to July 19, with big-screen broadcasts, music and food stalls—a great place to soak up the World Cup atmosphere for free. It’s not far from BMO Field either, so after the fan activities you can easily stroll over to the area around the stadium.
Book accommodation as early as possible. During the World Cup, downtown Toronto hotels are full almost every day and room rates will clearly jump, so when choosing, give priority to locations near the subway or streetcar to make getting to and from the stadium and city attractions easier. Take particular note: official tickets are sold only through FIFA’s official ticketing platform, which is the sole authorized channel—make sure you recognize the official website, avoid dubious resales and “ticket + accommodation package” traps, and be sure to compare prices from multiple sources and verify the seller before buying.
Since you’ve flown all this way, of course make the most of Toronto. Beyond the matches you can go up the CN Tower to look out over the whole city and Lake Ontario, stroll along the lakeside trail to feel the lake breeze, or dive into Kensington Market to take in the multi-ethnic market vibe—which happens to be not far from BMO Field. Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in North America, and pairing soccer with city sightseeing makes for an unforgettable trip. To plan your Toronto itinerary in more depth, see our Toronto travel section.
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