Opening FIFA Fan Festival in Toronto cancelled due to weather

Threat of lightning Thursday night behind cancellation, city says

Toronto's flagship World Cup party has been cancelled on day one of the tournament due to poor weather.

The FIFA Fan Festival, which was supposed to kick off at Fort York and The Bentway Thursday night, was being evacuated "out of an abundance of caution," with lightning threatening the city, Toronto's director of communications, Russell Baker, said in an email just after 4 p.m.

"The decision was not made lightly, however safety is our utmost priority," he said.

A TTC alert advised people headed north on transit from the festival site to take the 511 Bathurst streetcar, 29 Dufferin bus or 929 Dufferin Express bus to the Line 2 subway due to an issue on Line 1.

The event is ticketed, with free general admission already sold out and premium packages going from $100 to $300 each (before taxes and fees). It was not immediately clear how, or if, paid tickets will be reimbursed.

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Fans funneling out of the festival told CBC News they were incredibly disappointed, with some saying Thursday was going to be their main World Cup experience and they had travelled to Toronto specifically for the fan festival.

The FIFA Fan Festival, which features a variety of activities and a massive screen showing matches, will be on for 21 more days between now and July 19.

But the next one is scheduled for Friday, when thunderstorms and rain are in the forecast. The weather could put a damper on Canada’s opening match against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.

Canada Soccer House at the Harbourfront Centre, which is hosting watch parties through the tournament, has also temporarily closed due to the weather Thursday night, according to the site's official X account.

With files from Andre La Rosa-Rodriguez and John Rieti