Finishing touches applied to Toronto Stadium ahead of Canada’s World Cup opener
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TORONTO – With Canada’s June 12 opener at the FIFA World Cup fast approaching, the transformation of BMO Field into a new-look venue called Toronto Stadium is nearly complete.
Don Hardman, executive director of stadium and venue management for FIFA26 Canada, compared the process to the final week before moving into a new house.
“There’s still some final touches before you can move the furniture in and everything,” he said Thursday during a media tour. “But we’re really close.”
Work crews were kept busy throughout the venue and outside the grounds as a few dozen media members were shown around the lakefront stadium, which has Olympic-style security fencing around the perimeter.
Colourful banners and signage have given the venue more of a big-stadium feel. Temporary grandstand seating and four large video screens helped on that front too, with crowds of about 42,000 expected for each of the six tournament games.
Canada will kick off its group-play schedule against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“It’s a little bit of a smaller stadium but it does have the footprint, we have the real estate to get a little bit bigger, which we’ve been able to do and really create that World Cup environment,” Hardman said. “I think from a football perspective, there are going to be great sightlines, great energy, great atmosphere here at Toronto Stadium.
“It’s ready for the World Cup.”
After the opener, the Canadian team will head west for two games in Vancouver later in the month.
The field’s lines and goalposts had yet to be set down. A few grounds crew members walked mowers along the pitch, which looked pristine in the spring sunshine.
The operations crew had a chance for a dress rehearsal on May 9 as Toronto FC hosted Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
The new grandstands were open for the Major League Soccer match and the setup provided some take-aways for World Cup organizers.
“We did a little bit of work on our entry lanes and to make sure we’ve got enough capacity and that proved out,” Hardman said. “So it was a good experience to be at capacity to have that one match day. We’re going to continue to learn over six match days here in Toronto.
“So it’s always an evolution, but we are certainly ready to go across the board for next week.”
Media tables were being installed in the rows underneath the usual press box and broadcast booths. That area will instead be used as an operations centre for security, stadium management and guest services, Hardman said.
Toronto is one of 16 cities that will co-host the June 11-July 19 tournament across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. The final will be played July 19 in New Jersey.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2026.