The FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming to Canada, and with it, more than 600,000 visitors will crowd the streets of Vancouver and Toronto. This is exciting for many football fans and offers opportunities to boost the economies of both cities, but some of the best running routes are likely to be affected. There will also be extensive road closures surrounding the stadiums on match days, effectively keeping runners away from their favourite routes.
If you aren’t watching matches and want to go for a run instead, we’ve got the information to plan your runs.
Vancouver closures
Vancouver is hosting FIFA matches at BC Place on June 13, 18, 21, 24, 26 and July 2 and 7. The City reported that it expects more than 350,000 total visitors and roughly 50,000 downtown visitors during matches. On match days in Vancouver, roads within two kilometres of the stadium (unless you’re attending a match) will be a no-go. The streets surrounding the stadium will either be fully closed or will allow only local traffic. Although the closure is for vehicles, the congestion could also limit runners’ access to the area.
City of Vancouver match day road closures
The popular Pacific and Expo Boulevards will have restricted access on match days, requiring runners to detour. The False Creek Seawall will be affected by closures and foot traffic due to limited entry around the stadium. The popular Stanley Park seawall is likely to be very congested with tourists, who will fill the walking trails just outside Vancouver’s downtown core.
Photo: Maylies Lang/RunVan
Toronto restrictions not yet confirmed
Whereas Vancouver has published its plan, but Toronto has yet to confirm specific road closures. Matches will take place at BMO Field on June 12, 17, 20, 23, 26, and July 2, with more than 300,000 fans in total and 45,000 on match days.
Toronto runners should avoid the waterfront and Exhibition Place areas. Unlike in Vancouver, the FIFA Fan Festival is located close to where the matches are being held (near the Bentway and Fort York) and is expected to draw upward of 20,000 people per day. This is going to pack the lakeshore, Liberty Village and the Bentway.
Planned closure map from the City of Toronto
The waterfront is already one of the city’s most popular places to run, and the influx of tourists will make navigating the popular path especially difficult. The City of Toronto has not confirmed how it will close the area surrounding the stadium, but has advised that there will be road work restrictions on streets such as Strachan Avenue, Dufferin Street, Fleet Street and many streets within Liberty Village. Due to congestion, the area surrounding the stadium will be practically inaccessible to runners on match days, forcing them to explore other routes. Pedestrians will disrupt the Martin Goodman Trail near the stadium, requiring runners to detour.
2025 Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Photo: Nick Iwanyshyn
Alternative routes
Vancouver has many paths, making it easy for runners to adjust. If you want to stay within the city, the Arbutus Greenway is a calm route with nice views. It also has pedestrian-activated traffic lights and not many streets to cross. To escape stadium congestion, try running along the beaches. The routes from Kitsilano Beach to Jericho Beach, from Jericho to Spanish Banks, or out to Kits Point offer great alternatives to the seawalls closer to BC Place.
Toronto runners should consider going east rather than west along the waterfront. The lakseshore may have heavy foot traffic, but running east will take you to the beaches and its popular boardwalk. In the west end, High Park is a great destination, but the increase in tourists may only make it accessible before 9 a.m. The gravel trail through the Beltline, accessible from Rosedale, Moore Park and the Evergreen Brickworks, offers plenty of access to midtown and the popular Mount Pleasant Cemetery. If you want to access the Martin Goodman Trail from the Fort York and Lakeshore Boulevard side, you will need to take a detour north of Exhibition Place and back down to the Dufferin and Lakeshore entrance.