ABOUT
Few cities in the world combine urban sophistication with natural splendour as effortlessly as Vancouver. Mountains rise dramatically to the north, the Pacific stretches westward, and between them sits a clean, cosmopolitan city with outstanding Asian cuisine, a thriving arts scene, and near-endless opportunities for outdoor adventure year-round.
Toronto FC made history as Canada's first MLS club in 2007 and won the MLS Cup in 2017 in dominant fashion. The club draws on Toronto's extraordinary multicultural population, one of the most diverse cities in the world by some measures, to generate passionate support from communities with deep football roots across Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Canada's national team also plays their home matches here. For 2026, Toronto hosts three matches at BMO Field, including Canada's opening World Cup match as hosts against Switzerland, making it one of the most emotionally charged fixtures of the entire group stage.
Toronto
Getting FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets
Tickets and ticket prices have been much of the talk for the World Cup, so far. Because of the high prices for the World Cup, it means there are still tickets available for most games.
This is the biggest World Cup ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches through the tournament, running from 11th June to 19th July. Here's everything you need to know.
Official channels first.
The Last-Minute Sales Phase launched on 1st April and runs through until the end of the tournament. Unlike earlier lottery phases, tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis with instant confirmation. Your FIFA ID needs to be active and payment details saved in advance, as inventory for high-profile matches in cities like New York and Los Angeles sells out within minutes of being released. All purchases go through FIFA.com/tickets.
The official resale route.
The FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace reopened on April 2 and remains open until one hour before each match's kick-off. Availability can be very limited, with tickets appearing sporadically, so best advice is to check frequently and act quickly. All transactions and ticket transfers are handled by FIFA, keeping the tickets digital throughout. There is no limit on the mark-up on tickets, so prices can vary. However, with dynamic pricing, there's always a chance some tickets get cheaper nearer to the game.
Third-party resale — proceed with caution.
Platforms like StubHub, Viagogo, and SeatGeek operate legally in many markets but are not recognised by FIFA as valid resale channels. FIFA has made clear that tickets bought outside the official system may be invalid or cancelled. FIFA has placed no restrictions on resale pricing, which has caused significant controversy — particularly for the final, where prices are expected to be extremely high.
BMO Field offers official tours covering Toronto FC's extraordinary history – from their 2007 founding to the 2017 MLS Cup victory – and the facility itself. Tours include access to the home and away locker rooms, the pitch, the players' tunnel, the press box and the premium facilities.
The tour covers the history of all three of the club's Canadian Championship runs and the 2017 MLS Cup final performance. A separate exhibit covers the history of the Canadian national team programme, for which BMO Field is the primary home venue.
Full details and booking: torontofc.ca
Address: BMO Field, 170 Princes' Boulevard, Toronto ON M6K 3C3
Both Toronto FC MLS matches and 2026 World Cup matches are held at BMO Field. Take the 509 Harbourfront or 511 Bathurst streetcar to the Exhibition Loop, or the Lakeshore West GO Train to Exhibition station on match days.
Capacity: 45,000. WC matches: Canada's opening match (June 12) + 5 group-stage fixtures + Round of 32.
FAN ZONE: FIFA Fan Festival Toronto — Fort York and The Bentway
Toronto’s official fan festival will be staged at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway, close to the waterfront and not far from BMO Field. The event runs across 22 event days between June 11 and July 19, with live match broadcasts, music, entertainment, interactive experiences and more than 30 food vendors. It should feel very Toronto: multicultural, walkable and built around food, football and public space.
Cost: General admission is free, but advance online tickets are required. Premium tickets are available separately, and some free GA allocations may be claimed quickly.
A Toronto institution since 1929, the Royal York sits directly across from Union Station – the city's main transport hub – and offers grand rooms and excellent dining.
Conveniently located adjacent to BMO Field on the Exhibition Place site, Hotel X is a modern hotel with excellent facilities, a rooftop pool, and great views of Lake Ontario.
A stylish boutique hotel in the Entertainment District with an excellent rooftop bar and pool, good restaurant and walking distance to both King Street's nightlife and the stadium.
Central hostel near Kensington Market and Chinatown with comfortable dorm and private rooms, regular social events. Excellent access to the city's best food and culture.
POUTINE, PANMEAL BACON, AND DIM SUM
Toronto's food scene is a direct expression of what it means to be the most multicultural city on earth. No single cuisine dominates – instead, dozens of traditions coexist, interact, and elevate one another to create a food culture unique to Toronto.
The city's defining local dish is the peameal bacon sandwich – Ontario back bacon rolled in cornmeal and served on a kaiser roll with mustard – available at St Lawrence Market and increasingly across the city. Beyond this Toronto-specific institution, the food landmarks are found in its communities: Cantonese and Shanghainese food in the Markham and Scarborough suburbs (world-class by any measure), South Indian food on Gerrard Street East, Ethiopian food on Bloor West, West African food in Little Ethiopia, Caribbean food in Little Jamaica, and Italian food in Woodbridge.
The Restaurant scene in the downtown core – particularly along King Street West and in the Ossington neighbourhood – has developed a genuinely international fine-dining culture, with restaurants like Alo winning national and international recognition.
Open since 1803, St Lawrence Market is not to be missed. The Carousel Bakery's peameal bacon sandwich is one of the city's defining foods.
Toronto has a superb Chinese food scene. Mother's Dumplings are exceptional handmade Chinese dumplings. Outstanding value and available in multiple locations across the city.
One of Toronto's finest gastropubs, the Queen and Beaver serves outstanding food in a traditional British pub setting. The fish and chips are exceptional. Great beer selection.
Consistently rated among the best restaurants in Canada, Alo serves a delicious tasting menu of French-influenced contemporary cooking. Book months in advance.
CRAFT BEERS TILL 2AM
The craft beer scene has been transformed in the past decade, with Bellwoods, Left Field, Indie Alehouse, Burdock and a dozen other excellent Toronto brewers producing world-class beers that have changed the expectations of Canadian drinking culture. The Ontario Craft Brewers association has been particularly effective in developing the local scene.
The cocktail culture has grown particularly in the Ossington, Dundas West and Queen West neighbourhoods, where creative bars have developed sophisticated programmes drawing on Canadian spirits – Prince Igor Vodka, Highwood Distillers, Forty Creek Whisky and an emerging Ontario craft distillery scene.
Wine is well-represented in Toronto's better restaurants, with an interesting split between Niagara Peninsula wines (increasingly well-regarded for Pinot Noir and ice wine) and international selections. The city's diverse communities have also made sake, soju, mezcal and various other international spirits readily available across the bar scene.
Last orders are typically 2am in Ontario.
Known to locals as a "soccer sanctuary" near St. Lawrence Market, offering a vibrant atmosphere for various matches. Great poutine and bar food on offer.
Bellwoods is known for their Jutsu IPAs, Jelly King sour and an ever-changing range of beers. The taproom on Ossington fills quickly.
Bar Isabel serves excellent Spanish-influenced food and outstanding cocktails in the Little Portugal neighbourhood. Come for the pintxos, stay for the cocktails.
Described as the world's largest sports bar, Real Sports on Bay Street is Toronto's go-to sports bar. 199 screens to watch. Perfect starting point before heading to BMO Field.
Toronto is the fourth-largest urban area in North America, and considered the most multicultural city on earth, and one of the most liveable.
Home to 2.9 million in the city proper and 6.4 million in the Greater Toronto Area, Toronto has the headquarters of Canada's five largest banks, one of the world's most respected university clusters and a cultural scene anchored by world-class museums, galleries, music venues and a film festival that rivals Cannes and Venice in global prestige. The CN Tower is the icon; the food and neighbourhoods are the soul.
CURRENCY: CANADIAN DOLLARS
The CN Tower was the world's tallest building till 2010, and remains Toronto's iconic landmark. Experience the 360 restaurant, observatory, and the vertigo-inducing EdgeWalk.
A compact, chaotic, brilliant neighbourhood of independent food stalls, vintage clothing stores, gardens, and street food. An expression of Toronto's youth culture in downtown.
Niagara Falls is a world-renowned natural wonder composed of three waterfalls, 42 miles out of Toronto city centre. It is the largest waterfall in North America by volume.
The Royal Ontario Museum has an eclectic mix of collections, from Egyptian antiquities to the world's largest collection of Canadian dinosaurs, First Nations and Asian galleries.
Greetings and Basics
The 6 / The 6ix – Toronto's nickname (from Drake; area code 416)
416 – Toronto's area code; a point of local identity
TO – Toronto abbreviation
The Raptors – the NBA team; 2019 champions (the defining recent sports moment)
The Jays – Toronto Blue Jays, the MLB team
TFC – Toronto FC
Red Patch Boys – the main TFC supporter group
U-Sector – the TFC south end active supporter section
BMO Field – the TFC stadium on the waterfront
The CNE – Canadian National Exhibition, adjacent to BMO Field
The TTC – Toronto Transit Commission (subway, streetcar, buses)
Presto Card – the TTC and GO Transit smart card
GO Train – the regional commuter rail network
The Gardiner – the Gardiner Expressway (the elevated road over the waterfront)
King Street – the main nightlife and restaurant strip
Ossington – the hip bar and restaurant strip
Kensington Market – the bohemian neighbourhood
Little Italy – the neighbourhood on College Street
Little Portugal – adjacent to Little Italy; Bar Isabel is here
The Annex – the University of Toronto neighbourhood
Yorkville – the upscale shopping neighbourhood
Peameal bacon – Ontario back bacon rolled in cornmeal; a Toronto institution
Beavertail – the fried dough pastry sold at outdoor events
Tim's – Tim Hortons, the coffee chain; a Canadian institution
Nanaimo Bar – the Canadian dessert (chocolate, custard, coconut)
Double-double – a Tim Hortons coffee order (two cream, two sugar)