Toronto’s BMO field getting $146M facelift ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

The countdown to the men’s FIFA World Cup is well underway, with just under a year to go until the highly anticipated tournament kicks off. In preparation for the event, the downtown Toronto stadium, BMO Field, is undergoing a massive facelift to ensure it meets the standards required to host six tournament matches.

The city of Toronto, in partnership with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), is investing nearly $150 million into upgrading the stadium. The bulk of the funding, $123 million, is coming from the city, with an additional $23 million being contributed by MLSE. The renovations will see the seating capacity of BMO Field increase from around 30,000 to 45,000, with the addition of 17,000 temporary seats on grandstands at the north and south ends of the field.

In addition to the increased seating capacity, the stadium will see permanent changes such as the installation of four new videoboards, upgrades to locker rooms, lighting, audio, broadcast infrastructure, and stadium Wi-Fi. Luxury boxes and a rooftop patio with a capacity for 1,000 fans will be added to the north side of the stadium, along with a new center-field lounge on the west side.

Construction is being completed in two phases, with the first phase already underway and set to be completed by August. The second phase will take place from December 2025 to March 2026 to ensure all enhancements are finished in time for the first tournament match in June 2026. Despite the renovations, scheduled events like Toronto FC and Argonauts games will continue without interruption, although some gates may be impacted by construction.

Hosting the tournament is expected to cost the city of Toronto $380 million, significantly higher than the initial projected costs of $30 to $45 million in 2018. The provincial and federal governments have each committed roughly $100 million to help cover the costs of hosting the tournament. The city anticipates that the event will boost Toronto’s GDP by nearly $400 million, with FIFA estimating an economic impact closer to $520 million.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will see Toronto and Vancouver share hosting duties for Canada, with each city hosting five round-robin games. Toronto will also host a Round of 32 knockout game, while Vancouver will host a Round of 16 match. The tournament will kick off on June 11, with matches being played across 16 host cities in North America over a six-week period in June and July 2026.