World Cup begins as Canada braces for wave of matches, concerts and football fever

The biggest FIFA World Cup in history officially kicked off Thursday, as Canadian host cities prepare for an influx of matches, international fans and cultural events.

Fan festival programming, public watch parties and other activations are taking shape in Toronto throughout the tournament, alongside final logistical preparations ahead of Canada’s opening match on home soil Friday.

A colourful crowd dressed in jerseys and the occasional flag braved long lines and ominous grey skies to get into the festival’s Fort York site on Thursday. Inside, people flocked to the main stage to take in performances before the tournament’s opening match, with some spreading blankets in the grass.

Colin Smith said he made a “pit stop” to catch the festivities in Toronto on his way to support Scotland in Boston, where the team will face off against Haiti in its first match on Saturday. It’s the first time in 28 years Scotland has qualified for the World Cup, and Smith said he hopes to see them make it past the group stage for the first time.

While he came to the fan festival by himself Thursday afternoon, Smith said he knew he wasn’t the only Scotland fan there after seeing others in kilts.

He said he hoped to take it all in.

“It’s a good atmosphere, it’s a great city. We got to go to the baseball last night and then today with this, and looking forward to the first game (on Friday),” he said.

Gabriela Marvan wore a green Mexico jersey to root for her home country’s team as it takes on South Africa on Thursday afternoon. Her one-year-old daughter was draped in a sling across her chest, with large noise-cancelling earmuffs covering the child’s ears.

“I think having the World Cup in the city that we live in is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said, and the family wanted to make the most of it.

How long they’ll be able to stay will depend on how much the baby enjoys her first experience with soccer, Marvan said.

Thursday’s celebrations are only the beginning, however: the family has tickets to Canada’s opening match on Friday. “We are Mexican by birth but Canadian by choice so we are very excited and wanted to be there tomorrow,” she said.

Canada’s newly sworn-in Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour is also planning to attend Canada’s game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Staff at Toronto Stadium were seen shuffling across the pitch and concourses, putting final touches on the revamped venue Thursday morning ahead of its World Cup debut the next day. The stadium has been wrapped head to toe in FIFA and World Cup imagery, replacing the usual Toronto FC and BMO branding.

The city hosted a spirited countdown concert Wednesday night featuring Bryan Adams, Wyclef Jean, Nora Fatehi and The Beaches, performing before thousands of cheering fans.

This year’s World Cup is jointly hosted across Canada, the United States and Mexico, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa set for 3 p.m. ET today in Mexico City.

Before Canada’s opener in Toronto on Friday, Canadian rocker Alanis Morissette will sing Canada’s national anthem, along with performances by Michael Buble, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, William Prince and Sanjoy.

The World Cup runs until July 19, including six games in Toronto and seven games in Vancouver.

Throughout the tournament, several artists will play daily FIFA Fan Festivals in both Canadian host cities -- Toronto will see artists such as Alessia Cara, Murda Beatz and French Montana, while Vancouver will welcome artists like Mötley Crue, Broken Social Scene and Kaytranada.

The World Cup has drawn its fair share of criticism, with several Torontonians complaining about exorbitant ticket prices, traffic disruptions and public costs.

Toronto brand manager Hassan Javed said he spent about $1,000 on a ticket to June 20’s Germany vs. Ivory Coast game at Toronto Stadium.

“If the prices would have been lower, more people could enjoy the event,” he said.

“It’s a bit pricey for sure, but it’s one of the only times in life you can enjoy a World Cup game live … It was worth it.”

Brampton, Ont., roots artist AHI, who performed at the countdown concert with Wyclef Jean, said we shouldn’t take moments like this for granted.

“When the Raptors won the championship in 2019, the next year the whole world shut down,” he said, referencing the pandemic.

“So we’ve got to take these moments in. We’ve got to appreciate the opportunity. Yes, there’s going to be traffic; yes, there’s going to be a lot of people.

“But it’s people coming together, and that’s what life’s about. It’s beautiful, man.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2026.

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press