One City. One Summer. Millions of Memories.

Six matches. Twenty-three days of celebration. Hundreds of thousands of visitors. One unforgettable Toronto.

When Toronto was selected as a Host City for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the ambition was not simply to host matches. It was to showcase the city’s diversity, creativity, hospitality and global spirit to the world.

Reflecting today on what was, Toronto can proudly celebrate the once-in-a-generation experience that brought communities together, welcomed visitors from around the globe and created lasting benefits that will continue long after the final whistle.

A Global Tournament, A Toronto Experience

Over six FIFA World Cup 2026™ match days, about 250,000 fans visited Toronto Stadium, while more than 350,000 people attended FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway. Across every venue, neighbourhood and public gathering space, Toronto embraced its role as a global host city.

The tournament transformed public spaces into places of connection and celebration. Fans from every continent stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Torontonians, sharing in the joys, heartbreaks and unforgettable moments that make football the world's game. As FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto demonstrated throughout its run, Toronto truly lived up to its identity as The World in a City.

The tournament atmosphere extended well beyond the stadium. In communities, restaurants and public spaces across the city, people gathered to watch live broadcasts, including more than 60,000 at Nathan Phillips Square, while cultural performances, community programming and celebrations energized the city throughout the competition.

FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto Became the City's Living Room

It all started when Toronto was selected as one of three host cities to be the site for the FIFA Kick-Off Concert, bringing together Canadian performers and international audiences in a uniquely Toronto celebration.

Then, over 23 days, inclusive of two additional tournament days added because of overwhelming demand, FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto became the beating heart of the tournament experience. Visitors enjoyed live match broadcasts, cultural programming, community activations, interactive experiences and performances from 86 artists, including 80 Canadian performers and 75 local performers.

The Festival welcomed communities from every corner of the city. It served as a gathering place where languages, cultures and traditions came together through a shared love of the game. From spontaneous celebrations after dramatic victories to family-friendly programming and cultural showcases, the Festival reflected Toronto at its very best.

Honouring Indigenous Culture & Storytelling

Throughout the tournament, Indigenous voices, artists and entrepreneurs played a central role in welcoming the world.

The Tkaronto Market, located within FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto, showcased Indigenous-owned businesses and artists from Ontario. Visitors explored handmade beadwork, artwork, apparel, crafts and cultural products while learning about the significance of Tkaronto, the original Mohawk name for Toronto, and Indigenous history.

In addition to Tkaronto Market, Fort York National Historic Site offered daily Métis dot painting workshops, inviting visitors to engage with Indigenous stories and traditions in accessible and memorable ways.

These experiences ensured that Toronto's hosting journey reflected both the city's future and its deep Indigenous roots.

Supporting Local Businesses & Community Enterprises

The World Cup also created opportunities for local businesses to share their products and stories with international audiences.

Through FIFA's Local Licensee Program, Toronto-area businesses and social enterprises offered officially licensed FIFA World Cup 2026™ merchandise, including products inspired by Toronto's diversity and community spirit. Organizations like Newcomer Kitchen, Karalty and SBS Collective Co. demonstrated how major sporting events can generate opportunities for local entrepreneurs while celebrating the city's unique identity. The tournament showcased Toronto not only as a destination, but also as a city of innovators, creators and small businesses contributing to the local economy and community wellbeing.

Moving Millions, Keeping Toronto Moving

Hosting an event of this scale required extraordinary planning and coordination. The Toronto Mobility Plan successfully prioritized transit, walking and cycling while helping maintain reliable transportation across the city. Residents and visitors embraced those options in impressive numbers. Around Toronto Stadium, pedestrian volumes increased between 70 and 160 per cent, while cycling activity increased between 25 and 140 per cent above normal levels. Across Toronto's six match days:

• Approximately 85,000 riders used TTC routes serving tournament venues.
• Nearly 160,000 passengers travelled through Exhibition GO Station.
• Traffic conditions across the city remained largely consistent with normal conditions despite road closures and increased activity.
• The tournament demonstrated that Toronto can successfully move hundreds of thousands of people through a coordinated, transit-first approach.

Safety, Service & Operational Excellence

The success of FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Toronto was made possible by thousands of public servants, front-line employees and partner organizations working together. Emergency services teams delivered one of the most significant coordinated operations in the city's history:

• Toronto Police Service managed its longest deployment ever, spanning six continuous weeks while still maintaining the ability to respond to emergency calls throughout the city.
• Toronto Paramedic Services responded to approximately 550 requests for various types of medical care across event sites and coordinated an innovative regional response model that supported more than 570 additional calls.
• Toronto Fire Services responded to 1,835 incidents while helping keep visitors safe during periods of extreme heat.

Their professionalism ensured residents and visitors could enjoy the tournament safely and confidently.

Sustainability in Action

Toronto's FIFA World Cup 2026™ journey was also an opportunity to demonstrate how major events can support environmental sustainability. At FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto and across the broader tournament footprint, sustainability was integrated into operations through waste diversion systems, reusable materials, water refill stations and food-rescue programs. Working alongside partners including GFL Environmental, Green Event Ninjas and Muuse, Toronto tested practical solutions designed to reduce environmental impacts while creating community benefits. Key achievements included:

• 65 per cent waste diversion rate.
• 40.85 metric tonnes of material recycled or composted.
• 119.73 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions avoided.
• Food rescue initiatives supporting local communities through a partnership with Second Harvest.
• Reusable cups, foodware systems and infrastructure designed for future reuse.

These efforts were complemented by broader legacy investments, including urban greening projects, sustainable facilities and environmental education initiatives.

A Lasting Legacy

The impact of FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Toronto extends far beyond match days. The tournament supported workforce development programs, youth employment opportunities, community infrastructure improvements, arts and culture initiatives and investments in grassroots soccer. Legacy projects included new mini-pitches, a new soccer hub at Centennial Park, support for sports innovation through Toronto Metropolitan University's Future of Sport Lab, public realm improvements and community-driven arts programming. The volunteer program alone attracted 248,000 applications, the highest among all 16 host cities, with nearly 3,000 volunteers selected to help welcome the world to Toronto. Perhaps most importantly, preliminary research indicates that nine out of ten visitors surveyed said they are likely to return to Toronto for leisure travel within the next two years, underscoring the lasting impression the city made on visitors from around the world.

Thank You, Toronto

From the fans who filled the stands and Festival grounds, to the volunteers who welcomed visitors, to the thousands of staff, partners, performers and community organizations who made it all possible, THANK YOU! Together, Toronto delivered a FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience defined by celebration, inclusion, innovation and pride.

For a few unforgettable weeks, the world's eyes were on Toronto.

And Toronto showed the world exactly who we are.

The World in a City.

An Additional Thank You

The City of Toronto extends its appreciation to the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario for their support in helping make Toronto's FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience possible. Their investment is helping create opportunities that extend beyond the tournament itself, supporting initiatives that benefit communities, strengthen infrastructure and contribute to a lasting legacy for the city.

The City also thanks its Host City supporters whose commitment helped bring Toronto's vision for FIFA World Cup 2026™ to life. Together, these partnerships created a welcoming and memorable tournament experience for residents and visitors alike.

As Toronto continues to evaluate, learn and build on these experiences, the lessons from FIFA World Cup 2026™ will help inform future events and support the City's ongoing work to create a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.