Soccer is capturing the national imagination in Canada, a co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with fans hoping the tournament will serve as a catalyst for the sport in a nation defined by its devotion to ice hockey.
At one of Toronto's most frequented sports bars, hockey games continue to share screen time with World Cup matches. Yet, since the World Cup officially began, the city has seen a growing soccer fever, with its streets seeing a noticeable rise in fans wearing Jerseys representing the Canadian team.
"We love the World Cup in our country. It's a huge promotion for Canada. Usually we're hockey, but today we're all soccer," said a Canadian fan.
Historically, Canada's soccer foundation has been relatively thin. Before this year's tournament, the Canadian national team had only qualified for two World Cups in 1986 and 2022 and lost all six matches they played.
To meet FIFA requirements, Toronto Stadium, one of the host venues, underwent renovations and added around 17,000 temporary seats. However, the stadium's exposed steel-frame appearance has drawn criticism from many fans, who describe it as rudimentary and are calling for an upgraded facility.
"Soccer is lagging a little bit, so let's hope soccer grows bigger and maybe we get a bigger stadium eventually, like a permanent bigger stadium," said another Canadian fan.
Though a latecomer to the Canadian sporting landscape, soccer is rapidly taking off among the country's youth. Ahead of the tournament, the Canadian government noted that soccer is now the nation's most-played and fastest-growing sport.
As the World Cup kicks off, domestic professionals hope the excitement will translate into a deeper, more enduring soccer culture.
"I've actually just recently opened a soccer skills and conditioning facility to help support development of soccer at the youth level, to just help support that growth of skills development and a passion for the sport. And we knew the World Cup was going to be something that will drive that and hopefully create our own culture of soccer here in Canada," said a Canadian coach.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11. This edition is the largest in history, featuring a record 48 teams and, for the first time, three co-hosts: Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
For Canada, the 2026 World Cup represents more than just a tournament, but an opportunity for a hockey-dominated nation to introduce more people to the magic of soccer. After the first round of group matches, the Canadian team achieved a historic breakthrough by earning their first-ever World Cup points. Now, Canadian media and fans hope they can go further and claim a victory to inspire more young people to embrace the sport.
Soccer gains popularity in hockey-loving Canada with World Cup underway
