How were those $222.32 tickets I scored in the middle of the night on the FIFA ticket marketplace for Senegal vs. Iraq on June 26 and how was it attending a match in which I had no personal stake?
In short, worth every penny. In fact, compared to when the Raptors or Jays are in the playoffs — or Leafs trying to get there — I didn’t once feel like I was going to have a heart attack. I was just soaking in the atmosphere and the excitement of the true fans.
I went with Farley Flex Nwaigbo, a former Canadian Idol judge, original manager of rapper Maestro Fresh Wes, and my former partner on an anti-racism project, who went to university on a soccer scholarship. His love for the game is so deep, he flew to Germany in 2006 when Trinidad and Tobago historically made the World Cup.
“This is the only time I’ve only gone to one game, and the one game is for two teams who have no points so far, but it’s still exciting because you want to feel the atmosphere,” Flex said before the game.
Our walk into Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) guided from King Liberty Bridge was long and winding but easy. The crowd was chill. Everyone was smiling, many dressed in team jerseys and t-shirts or draped in their respective flags or waving a hand-held one.
Once inside the gates, everyone was given a souvenir “FIFA World Cup 2026” laminate, which was great to have if you didn’t want to splurge at the merch shop. In the fan zone (which took over the surrounding parking lots), there were tons of pose-ready installations, like a giant soccer ball and Toronto streetcar as well as sponsored games and giveaways that had long but fast-moving lineups. There was also a DJ booth, featuring Lucie Tic.
On the stadium concourse levels, the food and beverage kiosks were noticeably quiet. None of the ones I passed had lineups and most had just one or two customers — likely because of the ridiculously high prices. You’ve seen it already on social media and the news: A small bag of potato chips $7 and hotdog for $19.75, before tax. Our $9 Coke did at least come with a sturdy collector’s cup featuring the date, Toronto Stadium, and SEN v IRQ, somewhat justifying the price.
As for our seats, section 231, row 34, they were great; high up, yes, but facing the lake with the Ontario Place Cinesphere in the distance, looking like a bejeweled soccer ball, and the CN Tower to my left. As an FYI, the makeshift bleachers — to get the capacity from BMO Field’s 28,100-capacity to 45,000 (min. FIFA requirement is 40,000)— felt as safe and secure as permanent bleachers.
From up there, we could see the action perfectly and take in the sections with the biggest cheering squads. Ours was mostly Iraqis. The woman behind me answered my occasional questions, from names of songs the venue was playing to what she kept yelling? “Yalla,” she told me. “Let’s go.”
Flex, who was rooting for Senegal, had Iraqi fans next to him, behind him and in front of him — but they all chatted about the game as if the scoreboard didn’t divide their allegiance.
“I’m rooting for Senegal based on my reinvention of self with my identity as an African-Canadian. So that’s the main reason,” Flex said. “My parents were of Trinidadian descent, but obviously, that’s due to transatlantic slave trade. So, when realized that that was incomplete for me, I decided to actually change my last name to Nwaigbo, which means ‘son of the Igbo people.’”
“I chose the Igbo tribe because I asked all my continental African friends, based on my personality and what they know about me, which tribe do I align with and 87% of them said, ‘Igbo’ and they were from all different countries so that was pretty cool. That’s when I adopted Nwaigbo, on my 60th birthday, four years ago.” (He does not mind being quoted as Flex).
In other words, Flex was all-in on Senegal. After they scored early, I figured I needed a dog in this fight to get me more invested in the 90 minutes. I bet him a gold-plated hotdog from one of the kiosks. I picked Iraq for the same reason I liked QPR as a kid in England because my dad and brother liked Tottenham — “just cuz.”
“I’m sitting in the Iraqi section, predominantly and I’m the lone wolf cheering for Senegal. We’re up 3 nothing right now,” said Flex for this Now piece. “Hopefully, it’ll be four, we can qualify as one of the best third place teams. I’m owed a hot dog. Haven’t been paid yet, so I’m inquiring as to all the condiments that are available on the premises. But, a great atmosphere, great weather. Our city is unbelievably amazing.”
As we left the game a tad early to avoid the rush — the score 4-0 — all the food kiosks were closed, so Flex treated me to a hotdog ($9.50) from a permanent food truck on Atlantic Ave. By the end, the score was 5-0. “I just saw five young men in five different national flags walking together,” said Flex, “which is exactly what Toronto’s all about. It’s the diversity and the inclusion for everyone.”
