Toronto und Vancouver im WM-Fieber: Kanadas Plan für Millionen Fans

31.05.2026 17:37 Stadiums & Venues

When a football World Cup is held on Canadian soil for the first time in 2026, the country faces a logistical challenge of historic proportions. With Toronto and Vancouver, Canada provides two of the 16 venues for the tournament co-hosted with the USA and Mexico. A total of 13 matches will take place in the two metropolises – and organizers are expecting several million visitors who will not only fill the stadiums but especially populate the planned fan zones. In the center of Toronto, around Nathan Phillips Square and the waterfront promenade on Lake Ontario, the centerpiece of the Canadian World Cup experience is taking shape. The city is planning an extensive "FIFA Fan Festival" that should accommodate up to 50,000 people daily. Large screens, concert stages, gastronomic offerings from around the world and interactive football experiences are intended to ensure that fans without stadium tickets are also part of the spectacle. The Distillery District and Yonge-Dundas Square are also being discussed as venues for official events. The Canadian national team, which is automatically qualified as co-host, will play a central role. Vancouver is taking a similar approach, but is placing greater emphasis on the spectacular natural setting of the Pacific coast. The main fan zone is to be created in the area around Jack Poole Plaza and Canada Place – the location where the Olympic flame burned during the 2010 Winter Olympics. With a view of Coal Harbour and the North Shore Mountains, organizers want to create an atmosphere that impresses international visitors as much as local fans. Stanley Park and Granville Island will also be incorporated into the concept. The city expects around 350,000 international visitors during the tournament. Particular attention is being paid to infrastructure. Toronto is investing in the expansion of public transport, particularly in connecting the BMO Field, which will be expanded to around 45,000 seats for the World Cup. Vancouver is relying on its proven SkyTrain system, which directly connects BC Place Stadium with Downtown and the airport. Both cities are also working on expanded security concepts developed in close coordination with FIFA and the authorities of the USA – after all, many fans will move between the three host countries. Economic expectations are high. Studies by provincial governments predict additional revenues of over one billion Canadian dollars for British Columbia alone, with Ontario expecting similar figures. Hotels in both cities are already reporting extremely high demand for June and July 2026. Gastronomy, retail and tourism are preparing for the biggest rush in years. However, not everything is proceeding smoothly. In Vancouver, there have been discussions about exploding hosting costs, originally estimated at around 240 million dollars but now significantly higher. In Toronto, too, some residents are criticizing expected traffic restrictions. However, organizers emphasize that the long-term effects – from strengthened tourism to a boom in football in the country – justify the investments. For Canada, the 2026 World Cup is more than just a sporting event: it is the chance to present itself for the first time as a fully-fledged football nation on the global stage. Toronto and Vancouver will be the shop windows through which the world looks.