What to know
- Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium on Friday in its first FIFA World Cup match of the tournament.
- The game marks the first FIFA World Cup match Canada has ever played on home soil.
- Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez and Michael Bublé are among the performers scheduled for the opening ceremony.
- Fans are encouraged to arrive early, use public transit and take part in pre-match activations before kickoff at 3 p.m.
The FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and Canada is set to make history on Friday when it plays its opening tournament match on home soil for the first time ever.
Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium, located on Exhibition Place grounds, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.
The match marks Canada’s first game of the tournament and the first FIFA World Cup match the national team has played in Canada.
Here’s everything fans attending the match need to know.
Star-studded opening ceremony planned
Canada’s opening match will feature a number of special performances from Canadian and international artists.
Alanis Morissette will perform the Canadian national anthem, while Aleksandar Gajić will perform the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Additional performers scheduled to appear during the festivities include Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
The opening ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m., approximately 90 minutes before kickoff.
Fans encouraged to arrive early
According to FIFA, stadium gates will open four hours before the match begins, and fans are being encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays.
FIFA says supporters will play a special role during the opening ceremony and can also take part in exclusive activations and fan experiences before kickoff.
Tickets
As of Thursday, hundreds of tickets for the opening match are still available on FIFA’s website. Tickets range between $1,300 to $3,100.
How to get to Toronto Stadium
TTC options:
From Dufferin Station
- Take the 29 Dufferin bus south to Dufferin Gate Loop.
- Walk approximately 10 minutes to Toronto Stadium.
From St. Andrew or King Station
- Transfer to the 504 King streetcar.
- Exit at Strachan Avenue and walk approximately 10 minutes south to Princes’ Gate.
From Union Station
- Transfer to the GO Transit Lakeshore West line.
- Exit at Exhibition GO Station and walk approximately five minutes to the stadium.
TTC streetcar and bus routes
Fans can also access the venue using:
- 29 Dufferin bus to Dufferin Gate Loop
- 504 King streetcar to Strachan Avenue
GO Transit
Fans travelling on GO Transit should take the Lakeshore West line and exit at Exhibition GO Station.
Passengers arriving from other GO lines can transfer at Union Station before continuing to Exhibition.
Weather forecast for match day
According to The Weather Network, there is a risk of thunderstorms early Friday morning.
However, conditions are expected to improve before kickoff, with mainly pleasant weather forecast for the afternoon and temperatures reaching approximately 25 C.
