FIFA World Cup brings excitement — and multiple concerns — to Canada's host cities

As fervour builds around the domain for this year's FIFA domain transfuse tourney, residents and small businesses in Canada's host cities are bracing for daily disruptions that range from inconvenient to possibly dangerous.

Sixteen cities across Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Are co-hosting the global soccer tournament. Canada's cities — Vancouver and Toronto — are home to a combined 13 games, including Team Canada's opener on Friday.

But as soccer fans descend on Canada's host cities, residents and community groups are bracing for the complications associated with major events like the FIFA World Cup or the Olympics. 

Coun. Ausma Malik, who represents some of the most affected neighbourhoods in Toronto, said she's spoken with residents regularly over the past year.

Local businesses prepare to welcome fans for FIFA World Cup games

Concerns range from litter and noise in downtown neighbourhoods to traffic congestion and even safety for unhoused people who fear they'll be mistreated as the city ramps up law enforcement for the event. Police have also warned residents about a potential uptick in pickpocketing and petty theft. 

In Toronto's Liberty Village neighbourhood, adjacent to Toronto Stadium, local businesses have spent the last year preparing for the moment.

"There is a strong sense of excitement across Liberty Village and the surrounding area," said Abhi Kathuria, executive director of the Liberty Village BIA.

"At the same time, businesses are being practical and planning ahead. Many are reviewing staffing schedules, delivery logistics, customer communications and operating hours to ensure they can continue serving customers effectively during match days."

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What Toronto residents need to know ahead of the FIFA World Cup

Indeed, businesses have sent emails out to clients warning of delays and traffic chokeholds. On match days, specifically, the city is implementing several road closures in and around Toronto's Liberty Village and Fort York neighbourhoods. The same is true across areas of downtown Vancouver.

That's why local officials and local businesses have suggested people walk, bike or take public transit to get in and out of affected areas.

Nearby, residents also have some questions in Toronto's Fort York neighbourhood, where a city-run fan festival is taking place. 

Meanwhile, some of Vancouver and Toronto's most vulnerable residents have their own concerns — specifically about an increase in private security and police presence during the tournament.

"An event like this shines a spotlight on the city in a way that we want to look spic-and-span," said Angie Hocking, a community minister and member of the Toronto Underhoused and Homeless Union (TUHU). "So it creates a dynamic where certain people just by the sight of them are seen as a problem."

The result, she said, is police and private security profiling residents deemed "undesirable," including unhoused people — something already reported at Toronto's busy Union Station.

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"What we've been seeing at Union Station over the last two months is people have been targeted based on how they look, asked to leave, get tickets for loitering," she said. "This is a public space that's for public use, so it's pretty wild to tell people they can't go to the main transit hub." 

"Also, we've heard of actual violence, of people being harassed, bullied and even beat up," Hocking added.

City spokesperson Russell Baker has said Toronto will support unhoused people through a "people-first, human rights-based" approach.

Baker said a pilot launched at Union Station in April with Metrolinx, the Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto police and other partners aims to strengthen co-ordination among existing outreach, health, housing and crisis-response teams.

"Co-ordination between outreach, maintenance and security has also been enhanced to help keep the station safe and welcoming for all," Baker said.

Advocates say the mere presence of police can make vulnerable people feel uncomfortable, and they would like to see more shelters and respite spots made available.

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Sebastien Desormiers said he experienced assault at the hands of private security in a bathroom when he was previously unhoused. Today, he advocates alongside Hocking with TUHU and said "everybody" he's in touch with is worried about increased policing and what it means for their safety and comfort.

"This is not just a Toronto problem; this is happening around the world," Desormiers said. "People are experiencing displacement and harm at these games."

In the leadup to this year's FIFA World Cup tournament, cities had to devise human rights action plans. But advocates say they don't go far enough. 

It "does little to mitigate the risks that the city itself has invited by agreeing to host the 2026 Games," she said.

The reality on the ground has advocates and experts asking: Who is this tournament really for?

"It seems like we are hosting a half a billion-dollar private event at the lakeshore with public funding," said David Roberts, an associate professor with the University of Toronto's department of geography and planning.

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"I think we missed the ball in legacy planning," Roberts said, noting that the money invested in FIFA — which is a temporary event — could have instead gone towards long-term projects that benefit local communities. 

"I can think of a million other ways to spend half a billion dollars that would have so many more benefits for the city."

What Toronto residents need to know ahead of the FIFA World Cup

Roberts said that the biggest thing the World Cup has to offer is that it's fun. 

And there is plenty of local excitement brewing: businesses are decorating their storefronts with international flags, offering watch parties and touting deals during World Cup matches to entice customers. Meanwhile, the streets are full of smiling fans wearing colourful jerseys from all over the world. 

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"I think overall we're excited to have this really big event showcase our neighborhood and take place right in our backyard. It's a really great opportunity for the entire neighborhood, residents and businesses and visitors alike," Poon said.

Anya Zoledziowski is a Peabody-winning multimedia journalist from Edmonton who's covered social and climate justice, Indigenous affairs, gender, politics and more, and has been recognized by several national and international awards. She’s currently pursuing her PhD in journalism studies.

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