BMO Field: Canada’s first football-specific stadium at centre stage of 2026 FIFA World Cup
BMO Field is one of the two venues in Canada selected for matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting later in June. With two arenas, Canada has the fewest number of venues selected for the tournament, unlike Mexico, which has three and the United States, which has 11.
In accordance with FIFA regulations on sponsorship and promotion, BMO Field would be known as the Toronto Stadium throughout the World Cup.
Canada’s Bank of Montreal has owned the naming rights for the stadium since it opened in 2007. The deal has been renewed multiple times, including a 10-year renewal with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to keep the stadium name.
Erected on the site of the former Exhibition Stadium, the BMO Field is located in Toronto, Ontario. Its construction started in March 2006 and was opened just over a year later in April 2007, costing approximately $62.9 million and becoming Canada’s first purpose-built stadium.
It was funded by a unique public partnership between three levels of government and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment LTD.
The arena was renovated for $5.5 million in 2010 before another $120 million was spent to expand the stadium between 2014 and 2016. Ahead of the World Cup, the stadium has undergone another expansion, adding 17,000 seats to increase capacity to over 45,000.
The BMO Field is the home of Major League Soccer side Toronto FC and Canadian Football League franchise the Toronto Argonauts. The Canadian men’s football national team also plays at the stadium regularly.
During the World Cup, the stadium will host six matches, including five group stage matches and one knockout game. Canada will begin its campaign at the Toronto Stadium. Matches involving Ghana vs Parma, Germany vs Ivory Coast, and Panama vs Croatia are among the games scheduled to be held at the arena.
Apart from the upcoming World Cup, the BMO Field has staged other major FIFA tournaments, including the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
“In its inaugural summer, BMO Field (known to FIFA as Canada’s National Soccer Stadium) hosted over 260,000 fans during 12 games as the main venue for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. In September, 2007, Phil Collins and Genesis took the stage in front of a capacity crowd of more than 28,000 fans, the stadium’s website stated.
The MLS Cup, Rugby Union, Copa América Centenario, the Pan American Games, CONCACAF Gold Cup, Campeones Cup, Hockey, and Lacrosse have also been held at the arena.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Heading 5
NAFDAC nabs two fake alcohol merchants in Lagos
He urged operators dealing in regulated products to comply with all NAFDAC regulatory requirements.
Lagos
Police nab 147 suspected criminals in Lagos
The operatives targeted criminal hideouts across the state on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Heading 1
Tinubu names Fayose, 25 others in new appointments
All the appointments take immediate effect.
Heading 4
Names, countries of drug dealers, fraudsters Trump admin wants to revoke their U.S. citizenship
The Trump administration said the criminal aliens—including child sex abusers, a $900,000 Medicare fraudster, and a cocaine trafficker—lied their way into U.S. citizenship.
Anti-Corruption
Gbajabiamila back to office after ICPC grilled him over N400 million PFIPC bribery: Lawyer
Mr Adeyemi was arrested shortly after the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court last Tuesday issued a warrant for his arrest.
Heading 2
Kano begins second round of maternal, neonatal tetanus elimination campaign
He said the teams vaccinated 1,339,871 women out of the 1,388,396 targeted.





