Swiping right during FIFA: Is Toronto ready for a new World Cup dating scene?

Does FIFA mean new and attractive international singles? Some Torontonians think so.

As a host city, Toronto’s getting ready to welcome soccer fans from all over the world, and some might just be single and ready to mingle.

TikTok creator Mason Henrich recommended to Torontonians that this might be the best dating opportunity.

@masonhenrichh @Hinge 🖤 ♬ original sound – Mason

“The FIFA World Cup is coming up. So make sure you redownload Hinge, redownload Tinder and let’s get some European men,” he said in the video.

So, Now Toronto asked Toronto residents their thoughts on dating during FIFA.

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Is FIFA season for summer flings or relationships?

Toronto resident Karl C. believes FIFA will bring countless flings to the city.

“It’s more temporary. People coming in, people coming out,” he told Now Toronto.

Karl hopes to see FIFA as the biggest singles event yet.

Despite the very low possibility of seeing a short-term summer fling again, Karl would swipe right.

“You could still have a good time, get to know them, enjoy and immerse yourself in the atmosphere that’s here, and show them a good time,” he said.

Toronto resident Sydney L. is just as excited and might just check out the international roster for a short but good dating experience when the singles arrive.

“I think a lot of people will come into town for FIFA, and it’ll be a lot of different new pool of people,” she told Now Toronto.

But Toronto resident Le B. disagrees, arguing that FIFA’s arrival will bring more romance.

“It’ll give it a little [romanticism] to it, give people a little more emotional vibe because that’s how the Europeans are, you know,” he told Now Toronto.

So, he would of course swipe right on international daters.

“Opportunity. You never know who you might meet,” Le said.

Are Torontonians more excited about attractive new singles or about soccer games?

Karl is a huge soccer fan, so he’s excited for the buzz and atmosphere around the idea.

“There’s a lot of beautiful people in Toronto regardless of FIFA being on, so it’s not really going to make a difference, but I’m looking forward to the environment around Liberty Village,” he told Now Toronto.

But Sydney can’t pick; it would have to be both.

Le B. is more there for general vibes.

“If I should meet somebody in the vibes, then sure,” he said.

Do Europeans bring a different dating standard?

Karl has only moved to Toronto one month ago from Dublin, Ireland. So, as a European man himself, he believes standards are definitely different depending on where you live.

“If people in Toronto are used to wanting, and then you got Europeans coming over, maybe we’re raising the standards, but I don’t know yet what the standards are here, really,” he told Now Toronto.

But Sydney, who travelled around Europe for four months, thinks dating in Toronto is very different.

Though Le B. comes to Toronto daters’ defence.

“Let’s not s**t on [Torontonians.] Some here know how to take a lady on a date… It can be a little heartless out here every now and then, but [FIFA] will give us a nice little reset,” he said.

Would Toronto daters prefer World Cup tickets or a successful date?

Karl and Sydney prefer World Cup tickets.

For Karl, it’s all about the pricing.

“The cost of them is just outrageous, so it’d be a once-in-a-lifetime to go to one of those games,” he said.

Sydney L. Probably soccer, World Cup ticket.

But for Le, it’s hard to pick.

“I’m a man of both. I can’t pick. I need both of those, though, for sure. I can’t take either or,” he said.