With only a year left to wait until the World Cup finally comes to Canada for the first time, preparations are well under way. As joint hosts alongside the USA and Mexico, Canada have been awarded some privileges in the upcoming competition, including having all their group matches on home soil.
Toronto will be the first city to get international attention when the competition kicks off, as Canada will hold the opening match here. Vancouver is the only other Canadian city hosting matches for FIFA WORLD CUP 26™. There has been a lot of investment into improving infrastructure at the stadium and around the city, and there’s a great chance that Toronto will be able to put on an impressive show.
What Are The Biggest Changes Expected Before the World Cup?
As one of the biggest and best-known cities in Canada, it makes sense for Toronto to play host to some of the games at the World Cup. However, BMO Field is currently not up to scratch when it comes to FIFA’s strict requirements. Indeed, the seating capacity will need to be increased from 28,000 to over 45,000, and this will be done through the addition of temporary stands. It will also come with upgraded amenities and improved accessibility features.
It’s not just the stadium that’s going to get a complete makeover before the 2026 event rolls around. One of the most important things for a World Cup host city is being able to accommodate mass crowds of visitors from a wide range of countries. That’s why the transport network in the city is currently being optimised, with improved connectivity between key hotel areas and the stadium.
Fan zones are also being created in public spaces like Fort York and the Bentway, allowing for live match screenings for crowds who don’t have tickets for the games. The city is pushing its sustainability-first agenda with its preparations as well. Indeed, according to the City of Toronto, there’s a deal in place with Ontario Power Generation to be the official Host City Supporter for the competition.
Canada in Competition With Other Host Nations
Seeing as Canada will be one of three host countries in the upcoming tournament, there naturally will be competition with the USA and Mexico to see who can put on the greatest show. On top of that, the 2026 World Cup will be compared against recent successes, including Qatar in 2022 and Russia in 2018. Both of those competitions were massive hits, so it will be a big challenge for the 2026 World Cup to live up to them.
The USA will most likely outdo Canada when it comes to larger stadiums and sporting legacies, but Toronto can help Canada shine by promoting the country’s culture and heritage through various key events. One of these will be the Soccer Day at Nathan Phillps Square, where there is also a countdown to the tournament.
What Are Canada’s Chances in the Competition?
As of the 4th of July, Canada are at odds of 125/1 with Betway to win in the World Cup, meaning that there’s only a slim chance that they’ll do so. However, they are by no means the lowest-ranked team in the competition, with others given odds of 1000/1 to win or longer.
However, with Canada’s chances in the World Cup not wholly promising, and the 2026 tournament still a way off, North Americans may be more interested in a different kind of football. With NFL being hugely popular in the USA and Canada and the NFL season preceding the World Cup, it’s likely sports fans may be looking to this before the World Cup. The most anticipated event of the NFL, the Superbowl, is set to take place in February 2026. The Philadelphia Eagles remain the favourites to win in the latest NFL betting markets, but this too will have to stand the test of time.
Aside from the NFL, the 2026 World Cup could finally be the time for Canada to get into the knockout stages of the tournament, at least, but whether Canada has a chance of going deep in the tournament is still unknown.
According to Canada Soccer, the 2026 World Cup will be the biggest event of its kind ever, and the host countries are making excellent progress towards being ready for it. Toronto is already a world famous city, but now it has the chance to shine even brighter when it welcomes thousands of travelling fans next year.
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