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Saturday, May 16, 2026

BMO Field: Canada’s first football-specific stadium at centre stage of 2026 FIFA World Cup

With two arenas, Canada has the fewest number of venues selected for the tournament, unlike Mexico, which has three and the United States, which has 11.

• May 16, 2026
BMO Field
BMO Field[Credit: Toronto FC]

BMO Field is one of the two venues in Canada selected for matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting later in June. With two arenas, Canada has the fewest number of venues selected for the tournament, unlike Mexico, which has three and the United States, which has 11.

In accordance with FIFA regulations on sponsorship and promotion, BMO Field would be known as the Toronto Stadium throughout the World Cup.

Canada’s Bank of Montreal has owned the naming rights for the stadium since it opened in 2007. The deal has been renewed multiple times, including a 10-year renewal with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to keep the stadium name.

Erected on the site of the former Exhibition Stadium, the BMO Field is located in Toronto, Ontario. Its construction started in March 2006 and was opened just over a year later in April 2007, costing approximately $62.9 million and becoming Canada’s first purpose-built stadium.

It was funded by a unique public partnership between three levels of government and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment LTD.

The arena was renovated for $5.5 million in 2010 before another $120 million was spent to expand the stadium between 2014 and 2016. Ahead of the World Cup, the stadium has undergone another expansion, adding 17,000 seats to increase capacity to over 45,000.

The BMO Field is the home of Major League Soccer side Toronto FC and Canadian Football League franchise the Toronto Argonauts. The Canadian men’s football national team also plays at the stadium regularly.

During the World Cup, the stadium will host six matches, including five group stage matches and one knockout game. Canada will begin its campaign at the Toronto Stadium. Matches involving Ghana vs Parma, Germany vs Ivory Coast, and Panama vs Croatia are among the games scheduled to be held at the arena.

Apart from the upcoming World Cup, the BMO Field has staged other major FIFA tournaments, including the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

“In its inaugural summer, BMO Field (known to FIFA as Canada’s National Soccer Stadium) hosted over 260,000 fans during 12 games as the main venue for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. In September, 2007, Phil Collins and Genesis took the stage in front of a capacity crowd of more than 28,000 fans, the stadium’s website stated.

The MLS Cup, Rugby Union, Copa América Centenario, the Pan American Games, CONCACAF Gold Cup, Campeones Cup, Hockey, and Lacrosse have also been held at the arena.

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