What to know
- Thousands of fans gathered outside the Delta Hotel Toronto and at Pearson airport to welcome Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal’s national team.
- Crowds also lined Centennial Park during Portugal’s training session, waiting for a chance to see the squad despite extreme heat.
- Portugal faces Croatia at Toronto Stadium on Thursday in the city’s final FIFA World Cup tournament match.
- Environment Canada heat warnings prompted the cancellation of the Nathan Phillips Square public watch party because of safety concerns.
Despite sweltering temperatures and humid conditions, thousands of soccer fans braved the Canada Day heat wave to catch a glimpse of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo outside the Delta Hotels Toronto on Wednesday, ahead of Portugal’s match against Croatia on Thursday.
The Portuguese national team touched down in Toronto early Wednesday afternoon, where fans had already gathered at the airport to welcome the squad.
Fans line the streets for Ronaldo
The excitement later shifted downtown to the Delta Hotels Toronto on Lower Simcoe Street, where thousands of supporters lined the streets in hopes of seeing Ronaldo and the rest of the team arrive.
Video footage from the scene showed fences and barriers set up around the hotel as crowds waited for hours for even a brief glimpse of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The excitement also extended to Centennial Park in Etobicoke, where Portugal held a training session on Wednesday.
Although fences and security barriers kept fans at a distance, many endured the scorching heat for hours in the hopes of seeing the team during practice.
Ronaldo acknowledged the warm welcome on social media, posting a photo with the team during training alongside the caption: “Toronto, we are ready for you.”
Toronto, estamos prontos! pic.twitter.com/AwpPkOflnW
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 30, 2026
Fans say seeing Ronaldo in Toronto was a dream come true
Fans were quick to share their excitement online, especially ones who caught a glimpse of the superstar in-person at the Delta.
“I can’t believe I saw my GOAT,” a TikTok user said.
The user posted a video of Ronaldo waving to fans while on a balcony at the Delta hotel.
“This brings me to tears, I hope he knows how much Toronto loves him,” another user said.
Another user posted a video of Ronaldo on the same balcony at the hotel with an emotional caption.
“Met my hero today in Toronto, Goats do exist,” the user said.
@thisisronak Met my hero today in Toronto Goats do exist 🙇🥹🐐 #ronaldo #fyp #toronto #portgual #cr7 ♬ original sound – Ronak
Portugal faces Croatia in Toronto
Portugal will take on Croatia at Toronto Stadium on Thursday, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The match will be the final FIFA tournament game played at the stadium.
Adding to the anticipation is growing speculation that this could be Ronaldo’s final FIFA World Cup appearance. At 41 years old, the Portuguese captain is widely expected to be playing in his last tournament, making Thursday’s match a potentially historic opportunity for Toronto fans to see one of soccer’s greatest players in action.
Extreme heat impacts fan events
Fans planning to watch the match outdoors will also have to contend with dangerous heat, as temperatures are expected to climb into the high 30s, with humidex values reaching the 40s as a heat wave continues across Toronto.
As a result, the public match broadcast at Nathan Phillips Square has been cancelled due to Thursday’s extreme heat forecast and the resources required to safely manage large crowds at fan marches, Toronto Stadium and the FIFA Fan Festival Toronto.
