As excitement for the 2026 World Cup continues to build, Team Canada is already taking to the pitch against Iceland in a friendly match. Heather Wright reports.
TORONTO — Canada’s men’s national soccer team is in Toronto this week preparing for a pair of friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia, though the team will be without several players dealing with injuries.
On Tuesday, the team took to the field at TFC’s training facility at Downsview Park as it gears up to play its first World Cup match on June 12.
“We are calm, we are focused, we are ready,” said goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. “We know there is still preparations leading up to that but come June 12th we will be ready for that moment.”
It’s a moment many players have been dreaming about since they were kids – not only playing in a World Cup, but playing in a World Cup on home soil.
TORONTO STADIUM More than 17,000 temporary seats have been added to Toronto’s BMO Field, which will be known as Toronto Stadium during the tournament.
“It’s a dream come true for me personally and for the team,” said defender Joel Waterman. “You see the people in the crowd that got you to where you are, that have been in your corner, driven you to training. It’s a big moment for them too.”
This moment was never a given for these players; Canada went 36 years without qualifying for the tournament. So being able to play on soccer’s biggest stage and inspire the next generation of soccer players is special.
“(Growing up) I thought World Cups were only for the Brazils, the Spains and Italys of the world and not for Canadians,” said Derek Cornelius, a centre back from Ajax, Ont.
“So to be standing here today … 80 days out form a World Cup in Canada, playing for Canada … you couldn’t ask for more,” he said.
Cornelius is one of several Canadian players dealing with an injury in the lead up to the 2026 World Cup. Captain Alphonso Davies, coming off an ACL tear in 2025, strained his hamstring earlier this month while vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio is out with a leg injury. Several other players have travelled to Canada for the training camp but will not suit up for either friendly as they continue their rehab.
Scaffolding stands at Toronto FC’s BMO Field, in Toronto, Saturday, March 14, 2026, as new seating is built ahead of the stadium’s use in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Scaffolding stands at Toronto FC’s BMO Field, in Toronto, Saturday, March 14, 2026, as new seating is built ahead of the stadium’s use in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Countdown to World Cup
With less than three months until kick off, final preparations are underway at facilities in both Toronto and Vancouver. More than 17,000 temporary seats have been added to Toronto’s BMO Field, which will be known as Toronto Stadium during the tournament. Other upgrades include new screens, enhancements to the player areas and an improved playing surface.
Hosting the World Cup is not inexpensive, with the price tag in Vancouver estimated between $532 and $624 million while Toronto will pay $380 million. Toronto’s price tag has risen over the last few years but today Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow vowed it will not go any higher and may in fact come in under budget.
“$380 million is what we promised and that is what we are delivering,” Chow said today. “We are not going to go over the budget. In fact, hopefully, we can be slightly under budget.”
There will be a number of opportunities to test-run the enhancements made to BMO Field before control of the stadium is handed over to FIFA on May 13 including a match between Toronto FC and Inter Miami on May 9.
TORONTO STADIUM More than 17,000 temporary seats have been added to Toronto’s BMO Field, which will be known as Toronto Stadium during the tournament.
