Toronto's 1st World Cup match kicks off today: Here's what you need to know

Toronto's 1st World Cup match kicks off today: Here's what you need to know

Toronto to host 6 matches starting Friday with Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina

The fastest ways to get to Toronto Stadium for FIFA games.

The wait is over: You can finally catch Toronto’s first FIFA World Cup 2026 match today at 3 p.m. when Canada goes up against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

From Etobicoke to the streets of downtown Toronto, Bosnian and Canadian soccer fans are planning celebrations to get hyped up for the long-awaited opening match.

Bosnian-born and Canadian-raised Adis Mrakovic said he's hosting a watch party filled with cultural dishes, such as cevapi, for the Bosnian community and any soccer fans in Etobicoke.

"It's going to be a very, very emotional [game] for me," he said, adding that he'd love to see a lot of goals on both sides. "A tie would be the best for my emotions today."

Longtime Canadian supporter Colin Kilgour says a sea of red will be parading from Trinity Bellwoods Park at 11 a.m. to the stadium in celebration of the team's first game and the country's 40th anniversary since its FIFA debut.

"It's just starting to feel real," he said on CBC Radio's Metro Morning. "Anyone is welcome to join us. Wear read, come on and we're going to march to the match."

From co-ordinating traffic and transit to accommodating massive crowds, to abiding by FIFA’s trademark rules and outrage over ticket prices, the lead-up to the international tournament has been intense for the city.

Toronto is hosting a total of six matches this World Cup. Apart from Friday's Canadian opener, here are the matches it will host:

Before Canada's opener in Toronto, Canadian rocker Alanis Morissette will sing the national anthem at a pre-match ceremony, which will also feature performances by Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, William Prince and Sanjoy.

For fans hoping to get into or around the city, here's a rundown on what to expect with traffic and road closures during the World Cup.

Expect bars, FIFA Fan Fest to be busy

When the first game of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa kicked off Thursday, fans flocked to viewing parties across the city.

But excitement was cut short for those at the FIFA Fan Festival due to severe weather conditions. The festival is mostly free to attend and will run for 22 non-consecutive days between June 11 and July 19. It will be open for all six Toronto match days.

Sebastian Montiel, a Mexico fan who was at the fan fest Thursday, said it was exciting to support the team as an immigrant in Toronto surrounded by other fans.

"Especially when it comes to soccer, we all get together and if there’s a goal, we all feel it deep, deep inside," he said.

Team Canada has come a long way from starting deep in the FIFA rankings to having a competitive chance this year, said Kilgour, who will be cheering amongst the crowd at Toronto Stadium today.

"There'll be pride and the odd tear from people who have followed the team for a long time," he said.

While popular bars in the city are expecting a higher turnout for some games, fans are being encouraged to call ahead and check on policies, such as credit card reservations or minimum spends.

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Nearly half of the seats at the games in Toronto have been purchased by international fans, said Destination Toronto CEO Andrew Weir. He said the city is already looking vibrant with people decked out in jerseys of every colour and stripe.

"This country's got soccer fever, we're going to see [the excitement] for sure," he said.

The city expects congestion to be at its worst on match days from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. It previously predicted the World Cup could add 10 to 15 per cent more vehicles to major downtown roads.

Road closures will be in effect around Toronto Stadium and the FIFA Fan Festival on match days, including along a major chunk of the city’s waterfront. Some roads will be fully closed, while others will remain open to transit or pedestrians only.

Specific drop-off and pick-up locations for taxis and ride-hailing services will also be set up in the area.

There will be no parking at the fan fest or Toronto Stadium for fans.

Match days will also have “clean zones” set up around Toronto Stadium and the fan fest. At Toronto Stadium, the clean zone spans a two-kilometre radius.

Clean zones mean any promotional material for brands that could compete with FIFA or its partners are prohibited.

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With files from Ethan Lang, Gabriela Silva Ponte, Olivia Piercey, John Rieti and Maan Alhmidi of the Canadian Press