I Visited Toronto Ahead of the World Cup and Now, I Really Wish I Had Tickets

The World Cup ‘Toronto Stadium’ experience

One of the most exciting factors about how the World Cup will unfold in Toronto is something unique to only a handful of host cities: the stadium is downtown in a densely packed, highly walkable area. Anyone staying in downtown Toronto will find it relatively easy to reach the stadium on foot (though there is a transit station outside the doors).

As kickoff approaches, it’s easy to imagine thousands of excited fans marching their way to the stadium. Instead of being packed into trains, buses, and taxis, the entire city will be able to hear the excitement, see the sea of international colors, and even offer high-fives and cheers as their team’s fans walk by. And after the games, the excitement will literally pour into the city as fans leave the stadium and make their way into bars and restaurants.

BMO Field, where Toronto’s Major League Soccer club plays, is also one of the few football-exclusive stadiums among the World Cup host cities. That makes it a little smaller than most host stadiums, with a seating capacity of just 28,000. However, in preparation for the World Cup, the city added bleachers to the stadium, making it now able to seat 45,000.

During my visit, construction blocked me from testing out the views on the uppermost corner, but I could tell that it would still be quite easy to see the action on the field from anywhere in the venue – there just isn’t a lot of space between the first rows of seats and the players on the field. I’ve also toured AT&T Stadium in Dallas, a massive venue with double the capacity. Personally, I prefer the more intimate setting.

No tickets? No problem

For those who can’t get into the stadium or will be in the city during match days, the city is setting up a FIFA Fan Festival just a few blocks away from BMO Field at Toronto’s Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway. It took me about 20 minutes to walk between them, though with crowds and celebrations in the streets, budget perhaps an extra 10 minutes. That’s a selling point, as there will probably be excited groups of fans and small celebrations happening between the two venues, and walking between them on foot will be a great way to absorb the World Cup energy. Unlike some host cities’ fan fests, Toronto’s will run the span of the entire World Cup, from June 11 to July 19.

The Fan Fest venue is The Bentway, a mixed-use public space that’s part of a wildly successful effort to revitalize a forgotten area under an elevated highway. The unique space currently houses art displays, sporting activities and community events, and the city plans to further expand it in the coming years. It’s a great public space worth checking out if you aren’t coming for the World Cup. However, during the Fan Fest, it’ll be closed off and only accessible to ticket holders.

To be upfront, I have complicated feelings about these official FIFA Fan Festivals. This one is sure to be a lively event, as it’s on a large public site with music, entertainment, food, drink, and tons of space for fans to watch the matches on a huge outdoor screen. However, it’s also a trademarked FIFA event, and has been subject to some of the politics and pressure that goes along with that.

Last year, the city promised the Toronto Fan Fest would be free, only to announce later it would charge a $10 CAD admission (about $7), along with pricier VIP packages. Following backlash over the change, the city announced in early May it would reverse course, offering approximately 16,000 free tickets for each day. (As of publication, the next batch of tickets will be released on May 15).

That’s not the only watch party option

It is not just the downtown core that’s getting ready to welcome World Cup fans. Fans who head a bit north of the city can check out a special event happening in Downsview Park. It’s there that the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) plans to lead a watch party and fan festival celebrating the West African nations playing in Toronto. That includes not just Ghana, but also Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

“At this point, we are all one team,” Emmanuel Duodu, President of the GCAO told me. “We are very blessed, couldn’t have been a better city for the African teams. We are a population who will wear Ghana and Canadian shirts.”

Celebrating Toronto’s food diversity

From street food to fine-dining experiences, cozy brunch spots to populated food halls, Toronto has plenty to offer for travelers seeking cuisine as diverse as the city itself.

For a high-end experience, make a reservation at Lee Restaurant. The stylish restaurant is helmed by chef Susur Lee, Toronto’s designated FIFA World Cup 2026 Hospitality Captain. Each host city has one “hospitality captain,” most of whom are local celebrities, each tasked with “helping bring the local flair of each city to life for traveling fans from around the world.”

While I’m not entirely sure what that designation means in practice, the hospitality I received at his restaurant was undeniably spectacular. The menu leans into Asian and French-inspired fare, with creative cocktails and an extensive wine list. I tried eight different dishes over the course of a few hours, with excellent service that was both professional and personal. Everyone, from hosts to serving assistants, seemed to know exactly what I needed and wanted before I did.

Every dish was impressive, but the standout was the signature Singaporean-style slaw. It’s a 26-ingredient plant-based meal that arrives intended to impress. The towering dish is presented by the staff, perfectly held for photos, and then broken down and mixed at the table in a way that seemed both chaotic and controlled.

If you’re not sure where (or what) you want to eat, you could enlist the services of Culinary Adventure Co., a group of passionate industry professionals and foodies that offers thoughtful food tours exploring Toronto neighborhoods. I took a slightly abbreviated version of a World Cup-inspired tour called “Footballs and Foodhalls” launching this summer, focused on internationally inspired bites. It included everything from tacos to falafel to locally made ketchup chips (a true Canadian delicacy).

The tour wasn’t just about food, though, and I learned about the art and history of the places we visited between hearing personal stories about the people behind our food and drink stops. One of the most interesting stops was in the beautiful Waterworks Food Hall, a converted industrial space with historic and modern elements. It’s part of a recent surge in new food halls in the last five years as the city pushed to create communal space for residents and tourists while also supporting local restaurants.

Only a short walk from Waterworks is The Well, a hybrid indoor/outdoor mall with bars, restaurants, and snack stands, as well as plenty of shops. Both halls felt lively, filled with tourists as well as locals working, shopping, or just passing through. They felt like destinations unto themselves, rather than just places to get a specific bite to eat.

If you do want to go all-in on a sports atmosphere while you’re grabbing a bite to eat, consider Real Sports Bar & Grill for sports-focused surrounds. Some of the food is over the top – see the bar’s “Blue Heat” chicken wings on Blue Jays game days – but with dozens of screens, including a massive 39-foot HD screen, it’s a high-energy place to watch any sporting event. And if you’re further north, check out Ghanaian restaurant Nyamekye, with lots of stews, rice dishes, and apps. It’s been in the North York neighborhood for more than a decade.

Check out art, science, and city attractions

There’s plenty to do and see in Toronto beyond just the World Cup, which is yet another reason it’s such an appealing host city.

One such place I popped by is the CN Tower, the iconic tower in the middle of the city. For as much as it’s a tourist attraction (and has a maze of a gift shop to navigate), the views are breathtaking as can be, especially on a clear day. It’s one of those places you might dismiss as cheesy until you’re actually up there and see it in person.

I’ll also suggest that the aquarium, next to the CN Tower, is worth a visit. If you avoid the peak crowded hours, you’ll have a captivating, almost peaceful experience navigating the many exhibits and creatures. The shark tunnel is particularly fun for those who are young or young-at-heart and is another one of those things that can sound cheesy to some, but is almost surreal for others.

For art and science lovers, the Art Gallery of Ontario and Royal Ontario Museum are centrally located, as is the Bata Shoe Museum, which has exhibits on everything from cowboy boot culture to Roman footwear during my visit.

Make this trip happen

There are two airports serving the city. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is a major North American hub with direct flights to and from the US and Europe. It’s about a 30-40-minute ride to the downtown core depending on traffic. Rideshares and public transit are available at every terminal as well. The Union Pearson Express train is probably the easiest way to get from the airport to downtown Toronto’s Union Station.

The smaller Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is downtown on Toronto Island. It mostly welcomes local flights from destinations like Boston, Chicago, Newark, Montreal, and a few other nearby cities. Passengers arriving at YTZ can take a 90-second ferry or walk through a short pedestrian tunnel and immediately be downtown and near Toronto’s public transit.

Toronto is a very walkable city. If you’re staying downtown or near the stadium, I recommend trying to walk as much as possible. The city has announced plans to increase public transit access (while also limiting construction and parking) so that buses and streetcars can move around the core more easily. This means walking will be not just more enjoyable, but likely faster than trying to get a taxi or Uber.

Of course, Toronto has an efficient subway system as well as trains to bring people in from major hubs within and beyond the city. Check out TTC and Go Transit for more information on getting around. I recommend against bringing a car anywhere near the city. Rideshares will also be available, although prices are likely to surge during the games.

Where to Stay

I stayed at Hotel X Toronto Destination by Hyatt. It’s an 8-minute walk to BMO Field (and some rooms even have views of the stadium), and only a 20-minute walk to the FIFA Fan Fest. There’s a movie theater, tennis courts, a sports simulator, and a rooftop heated pool, among other draws. As of late April, FIFA had recently canceled a large block of rooms it had booked at this hotel, so there should be plenty of availability if you make your plans quickly.

Where to Eat and Drink in Toronto

• Lee Restaurant: 497 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Y3
• Mildred’s Temple Kitchen: 85 Hanna Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, CA, M6K 3S3
• Real Sports Bar & Grill: 15 York St, Toronto, ON, M5J 0A3
• Wellington Market Food Hall: 486 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 0V2
• Canoe: 66 Wellington St. W, TD Bank Tower, 54th Floor Toronto, ON M5K 1H6
• Waterworks Food Hall: 50 Brant St, Toronto, ON M5V 3G9
• Cafe Landwer: 33 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, CA, M5E 1G4
• King of Kings Bakery: (No website) 248 Eddystone Ave, North York, ON M3N 1H7
• Nyamekye: 2965 Islington Ave, Unit 15, North York, ON M9L 1E8

What to Do in Toronto

• FIFA Fan Festival: 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3K9
• The Bentway: 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3K9
• CN Tower: 290 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9
• Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada: 288 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9
• Royal Ontario Museum: 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6
• Bata Shoe Museum: 327 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7
• Art Gallery of Ontario: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4
• Hockey Hall of Fame: 30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8