Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions to play home games on the road to make way for the FIFA World Cup
The BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts Prepare for CFL Season as Road Warriors
The BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts are gearing up for the upcoming CFL season as they prepare to play home games away from their usual locations during the FIFA World Cup. The Gentlemen of Voetbal World Championship is set to take place from June 11 to July 19, with matches being held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Vancouver and Toronto will be hosting a total of 13 games during the World Cup. Toronto’s BMO Field will host six games, including the very first World Cup match in Canada on June 12. Meanwhile, seven games will be played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, including Canada’s group stage matches on June 18 and 24.
In preparation for the World Cup, both teams will be playing their home games in different cities. The Argos will be playing at Hamilton Stadium, Mosaic Stadium in Regina, and Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium, while the Lions will announce the details of their two home games at a later date.
The CFL has announced that the full schedule for the 2026 season will be released during the offseason. The 2025 campaign will conclude with the Grey Cup on November 16 at Princess Auto Stadium.
The construction at BMO Field in Toronto has been underway since the end of the 2024 CFL season. The stadium has undergone significant upgrades, including the installation of four LED scoreboards, an increase in seating capacity, improvements to the audio systems, and the construction of a new north-end pavilion.
After the World Cup, BMO Field will return to its CFL standards, ready to host the Argonauts once again. The temporary move is aimed at showcasing the city and the stadium on a global stage, with plans to bring even more energy and excitement to Toronto upon their return.
While playing home games away from their respective cities may pose challenges for the Lions and Argos, the CFL is confident that the teams will be able to rally support from fans in the host cities. The schedules for both teams will be adjusted in the following season to restore the home-field advantage for the second half of the 2026 campaign.
Overall, the CFL is looking forward to the unique opportunity presented by the World Cup, as it brings together countries and communities under one flag. With the support of fans and the excitement surrounding the tournament, both the Lions and Argos are poised to make the most of their Road Warrior status in the upcoming season.
