Toronto to host Canada's opening match of FIFA World Cup 2026
Hosts Canada will play their first FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture in Toronto and will remain on home soil for all their group matches.
Toronto Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for Canada's opening fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on Friday, 12 June 2026.
The full match schedule for the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup has now been unveiled, giving the framework for the 104-game tournament featuring 48 teams across 16 host cities in three countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Toronto Stadium will become the first Canadian ground to host a game at the FIFA World Cup. The city has previously hosted games at the FIFA U-17 World Cup™, The FIFA U-20 World Cup™ and the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™.
Canada will play all three of their group stage fixtures on home soil, with BC Place Vancouver hosting their second and third group games on Thursday, 18 June and Wednesday, 24 June.
Name: Toronto Stadium
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Capacity: 45,000
Opened: 2007
Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina/Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales | Group B | Friday, 12 June
Ghana v Panama | Group L | Wednesday, 17 June
Germany v Côte d'Ivoire | Group E | Saturday, 20 June
Panama v Croatia | Group L | Tuesday, 23 June
Senegal v Bolivia/Iraq/Suriname | Group I | Friday, 26 June
Match 83 | Round of 32 | Thursday, 2 July
Toronto Stadium was purpose-built as Canada hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007 and staged the final where Argentina emerged triumphant, with Sergio Aguero claiming the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
The venue, which has an English Premier League-style roof canopy and steep stands on either end of the ground, played host to the climax of Canada’s campaign to reach the FIFA World Cup 2022™, when their ticket to Qatar was secured with victory over Jamaica.
That success ended Canada’s 36-year absence from the global showpiece, and extended their impressive record of having never lost a competitive match at Toronto Stadium, which will be welcoming FIFA tournaments back to the city having also hosted the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2014.
People who hail from Toronto are called Torontonians.
Toronto is the most-populous city in Canada, with north of 2.8million residents.
The world-famous CN Tower is based in the city. At 553 metres tall, it was the largest free-standing structure in the world until the Burj Khalifa was completed in 2009.
Hit music artists Drake, Shawn Mendes and The Weeknd all hail from Toronto, as well as world-renowned actors Jim Carrey, Keanu Reaves and Mike Myers.
Baseball legend Babe Ruth hit his first home run at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island. He would go on to hit more than 700 more during his Major League Baseball career.
In the 1600s, a Frenchman named Etienne Brule was sent to explore parts of the country when he came across the river and portage routes from the St. Lawrence to Lake Huron. The native Huron peoples had long called this area "Toronto," believed to mean "meeting place."
Toronto developed into the fourth-largest city in North America and the largest in Canada. It is a world leader in business, entertainment, technology and finance, and now boasts a hugely multicultural and diverse population.
The city is also famous for its sport. One-time MLS cup winners Toronto FC are the main footballing attraction, while the Toronto Blue Jays (baseball), Toronto Raptors (basketball) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey) represent the city across some of the other major sporting leagues. Lacrosse, rugby and wrestling are also very popular.