This summer, Canada trades hockey for soccer as the World Cup arrives in Vancouver and Toronto.
Courtesy of Destination Vancouver
Canada might be best known for ice hockey, but this summer it’s all about soccer. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to Canada (plus the United States and Mexico), and as a Canadian, I couldn’t be more fired up to show off my country.
Two Canadian cities will host 13 matches between June 12 and July 19. Toronto, North America’s fourth-largest city, will kick off the action on June 12 with a home game at Toronto Stadium (aka BMO Field), one of six matches in the city. And Vancouver, a West Coast city that’s a nature lover’s paradise with fascinating Indigenous culture, will host seven games at BC Place. Frequent flights connect the two cities, via domestic airlines such as Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter.
Beyond the footie, there’s plenty to do in both cities. If you’re headed to either (or both) Canadian host destinations, here’s an essential guide to making the most of your time, diving deeper into Toronto and Vancouver and getting off the tourist trail to experience what their local scenes have to offer.
Toronto: At a glance
- Match dates: June 12–July 2 (6 matches)
- Stadium: BMO Field (Toronto Stadium)
- Fan Festival: Fort York
- Tickets: fifa.com
Toronto: Where to stay
Bike or stroll along the waterfront in Toronto’s Harbourfront neighborhood.
Courtesy of Destination Toronto
Unlike some U.S. host cities—where you might need to base yourself in nearby towns to be close to the stadiums—Toronto has a centrally located stadium that puts you right in the heart of the action.
Toronto Stadium is on Exhibition Place in the city’s west end, with plenty of hotels nearby. The closest is Hotel X, a resort-style property with its own art gallery, Guerlain Spa, and indoor tennis court. Alternatively, stay a short walk from the arena on trendy Queen Street West at the stylish Drake Hotel or quirky Gladstone House.
Related: These Are the 20 Best Luxury and Boutique Hotels in Toronto
Toronto: Neighborhoods to explore
“When I head down to BMO Field for a game, I always make a night of it and start the evening with dinner on Queen West, just a 10-minute walk from the stadium,” says Michael Medeiros, chef at Lyla on nearby Sudbury Street.
Close to the stadium, Queen Street West is one of the hippest streets in the city and a favorite postgame spot for the chef. If you’re in the area, have a Hawaiian-style cocktail at the Shameful Tiki Room, pizza at King Slice, heavenly bites at Craig’s Cookies, or browse for retro fits at Shmata Thrift Store.
Toronto is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own flavor, vibe, and local hangouts.
Northwest of Toronto’s Entertainment District, my favorite city neighborhood is Kensington Market, a labyrinth of funky shops and cuisine from all corners of the globe. Try authentic tacos at El Trompo or Jewish-style brunch at Free Times Cafe, and vintage shop hop down Kensington Avenue.
Or head to Toronto’s Harbourfront, a favorite of chef Kazuki Uchigoshi of Miku. “In summer, I enjoy biking along the harbor, stopping at the Music Garden and taking the water taxi to Toronto Island,” he says.
Toronto: Things to do
The CN Tower and the Art Gallery of Ontario are both must-visit destinations in Toronto, but for very different reasons.
Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel/Unsplash (L); photo by Varun Goregaonkar/Unsplash (R)
There’s enough happening in Toronto to fill way more than four days in the Canadian city. The 1,814-foot-tall CN Tower is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, and what better way to celebrate than clipping into a harness and braving the 16th-story EdgeWalk?
When you’re back on the ground, visit one of Toronto’s superb museums: the Frank Gehry–redesigned Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Bata Shoe Museum.
And it’s not a solely soccer summer in the city: Toronto will be celebrating Pride (from June 25 to 28), Toronto International Jazz Festival (June 19 to 28) and the Luminato performing arts festival (June 3 to 28) as the temperatures rise.
Toronto: Where to eat
If Vancouver’s for nature lovers, Toronto is for foodies, with a diverse dining scene that skips from Egyptian-style brunch at Maha’s to Chinese Caribbean soul food at Patois. There are Michelin-starred spots, iconic snacks like the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery inside 223-year-old St. Lawrence Market, and Jamaican patties on every block (Caribbean Queen of Patties is a classic pick). During summer, it pays to find a seat on a patio, says Emma Ly, bartender at Minami, an upscale Japanese restaurant downtown. “If there’s a patio, choose the patio,” she says, “with an Aperol spritz of course.”
Peckish during the game? Poutine is one of Canada’s essential eats: Get the fries, cheese curds, and gravy, or a roast porchetta sandwich, from concessions at the stadium.
Toronto: Where to watch matches
If you don’t have tickets for the game, you can watch live streams on the big screen at the FIFA Fan Festival Toronto, located at Fort York, close to Toronto Stadium.
The closest sports bar to Toronto Stadium is Brazen Head Irish Pub, but I’d advise heading to one of the city’s soccer-crazed neighborhoods like Little Portugal, Little Italy, or Greektown for a more flavorful match-viewing experience at small, local bars.
Related: The Perfect 4 Days in Toronto, According to Locals
Toronto: Day trips
You have options. Why not try ziplining across Niagara Falls, which is 90 minutes from the city? The nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake region is also one of the country’s top wine regions, too. Or feast on butter tarts—a rare invented-in-Canada dessert—in Midland at Ontario’s Butter Tart Festival on June 13.
Vancouver: At a glance
- Match dates: June 12–July 19 (7 matches)
- Stadium: BC Place
- Fan Festivals: Hastings Park, PNE Amphitheatre
Tickets: fifa.com
Vancouver: Where to stay
Gastown is a historic cobblestone neighborhood. Chinatown is the home of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Courtesy of Destination Vancouver (L); photo by Klara_Steffkova/Shutterstock (R)
Vancouver’s World Cup matches will take place at BC Place, a stadium in the center of the city. JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and the Douglas, Autograph Collection are both close by, or opt for a truly local stay at Keefer House, an apartment-style hotel that opened in November 2025 in Vancouver’s Chinatown, a 13-minute walk from the stadium.
Related: The 7 Best Hotels in Vancouver for a Truly Local Stay
Vancouver: Neighborhoods to explore
Two of Vancouver’s most historic neighborhoods are within walking distance of BC Place: Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest cobblestone district, and Canada’s largest Chinatown, which has its own botanical gardens and living museum.
Wherever you go, ditch the car. Vancouver is best explored on foot, by bike (using Mobi, the city’s bikeshare program), or via public transport, including the SkyTrain from the Vancouver International Airport and ferry rides with the Aquabus or Seabus.
Vancouver: Things to do
Stanley Park’s seawall path winds for six miles along the water.
Courtesy of Destination Vancouver
Whether you’re visiting for a long weekend or longer, there’s plenty to do to make the most of a visit to the Pacific Northwest city during the FIFA World Cup. Vancouver is a terrific place to learn about Indigenous cultures. Join Talaysay Tours’ Talking Trees (a Coast Salish–owned and –operated company) for a guided walk in Stanley Park, a 1,000-acre coastal rainforest, to learn about the significance of the park’s trees and plants in Indigenous medicine, food, and technology. And the World Cup is happening during National Indigenous Peoples Month (June), so look for additional events happening across the city.
Whatever you do, get outside, says Jeff Savage, beverage director at Prophecy Bar at the Rosewood Hotel and the man responsible for cocktails at BC Place during the World Cup. “Yes, Stanley Park is truly lovely, but there are so many amazing small hikes and detours within 20 minutes of the city that are jaw-dropping,” he says.
Classic outdoor options include climbing the Grouse Grind, a steep 1.8-mile trail up Grouse Mountain, and crossing the 459-foot Capilano Suspension Bridge, but you can also tackle the 3-mile Bowen Lookout Trail at Cypress Provincial Park for something more off the beaten path.
Related: 4 Days in Vancouver: A Forested Brewery, a Bikeable Seawall, and Indigenous-Led Talks With Trees
Vancouver: Where to eat
Unexpectedly, the food offering inside BC Place has a trick up its sleeve: You can eat at Salmon n’ Bannock, Vancouver’s only Indigenous restaurant, which is serving its signature burgers (house-smoked sockeye salmon on a bannock) at concessions during the tournament.
Or head into the surrounding neighborhood to taste “some of the most wonderful sushi outside of Japan,” says Savage. “Whether it’s somewhere like Tojo’s for omakase (where chef Tojo-san is credited for the creation of the California roll), the Michelin-starred Masayoshi, or the late-night and lovely Oku in Gastown, there are so many amazing experiences to have here.”
Vancouver: Where to watch matches
The FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver is set to be in Hastings Park at the PNE Amphitheatre, or head a few blocks over from BC Place to Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill, a local chain with surprisingly great pub grub.
Savage’s go-to spot for games is the American on Main Street, while Devon Latte, chef and co-owner at Nero Tondo, loves Bells and Whistles. “Rotating taps, and the best breakfast sando and burger around,” he says.
Vancouver: Day trips
Hop on a seaplane (yes, really) or ferry to Vancouver Island to road-trip between giant trees at Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park. Or drive past glaciers, old-growth forests, and public art along the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, a 68-mile stretch of British Columbia’s Highway 99 leading to Whistler resort.
