Quick guide to World Cup fun in Toronto
· Toronto Sun
The party is almost here as Toronto welcomes the world for FIFA World Cup action.
The city will host six World Cup games, with Canada leading off in a historic matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 at BMO Field (temporarily re-named Toronto Stadium to avoid confusion) at Exhibition Place. Ghana takes on Panama on June 17. Perennial World Cup powerhouse Germany plays Cote d’Ivoire on June 20. Croatia plays Panama on June 23 and Senegal takes on Iraq on June 26. Toronto will also host a round-of-32 matchup on July 2.
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In the meantime, there will be plenty of fun for visitors and locals alike with increased transit service and extended bar and restaurant times. So here’s a quick primer on what to know and where to go to get the most out of your World Cup experience in Toronto.
Getting around
The first thing you ought to know is how to actually get to the venue. The TTC will expand service on match days to and from Exhibition Place and the FIFA Fan Festival zone at Fort York. Other staff and special event ambassadors will be on hand at major stations across the system to help people get where they need to go. Note to newcomers: Don’t worry, the meth heads on the subways and streetcars won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. Usually.
Likewise, GO Transit is increasing its service, and with its Exhibition Station right on the doorstep of the venue, it’s a pretty handy way to get to the games. Trains on the Lakeshore East and West lines will run every 15 minutes throughout most of the day. If you’re coming in from Union Station, GO encourages you to walk to the venue from there to alleviate congestion. Late-night trips will be available too, with the last Lakeshore West train leaving Union at 12:47 a.m. and the last Lakeshore East train leaving at 12:50 a.m. And with GO Transit, 12:47 means 12:47, so don’t be late.
Where to watch the games
If you don’t have tickets, you can watch the games for free at the aforementioned FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York and The Bentway at 250 Fort York Blvd. Admission is free for more than 15,000 public spots every day, though you need to go online to get tickets. Canada Soccer House at Harbourfront will also be open for fans to cheer on the national team starting on June 11.
If you’re looking for a big screen Real Sports Bar & Grill is your go-to spot. The massive venue next to Scotiabank Arena features a 39-foot main screen, and nearly 200 other screens so you won’t miss a second of the action.
Extended booze hours
As part of his continuing war on your liver, Premier Doug Ford has extended alcohol-serving hours until 4 a.m. You read that right: the Ontario government is allowing officially permitted licensed bars and restaurants across the province, not just Toronto, to serve alcohol until 4 a.m.
“FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming to Ontario and we want fans to experience every moment of it,” the premier said in a video posted to X . To which I would add that if you can remember even one minute of it, you’re not doing it right.
FIFA-friendly neighbourhoods
You’ve got your usual well-known spots such as Liberty Village, Kensington Market, the Distillery District, the Ossington Strip, St. Lawrence, Harbourfront and Queen St. W. which will almost certainly draw in the tourists, but locals in the know will likely go to Little Italy, Greektown on the Danforth or Little Portugal for ad hoc street parties and hardcore soccer fans. Little Italy may indeed be the best place to start, as the Azzurri were eliminated from World Cup contention after a 4-1 loss on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina back in March, and Italian fans will surely look to Canada to avenge them when they take them on in the opening match. Plenty of bars and cafes in these neighbourhoods offer some of the best food in the city, so even if you don’t get your soccer fix, you can be sure you’ll get a good meal.
Finally, be nice to the cops
With all the festivities, massive crowds, extended booze hours and potential hooliganism, Toronto Police, with the assistance of surrounding regional police forces, are rolling out the largest deployment in the city’s history. With heightened media visibility, police are expecting an big uptick in political protests (because why wouldn’t they try to ruin everybody’s good time), so they’ve got enough on their plate. For safety’s sake, co-operate when and if they tell you to do something.
Have fun and enjoy the games!