Toronto erupted in red as the city’s streets turned into a rolling wave of flags, chants and crowds ahead of Canada’s World Cup debut, a historic moment that transformed the downtown core of the nation’s largest city.
Hours before kickoff, fans packed sidewalks, intersections and gathering points around Toronto Stadium. Clouds of red jerseys and Canadian flags dominated the scene as supporters made their way toward the temporarily rebranded BMO Field.
For many fans, the moment carried a sense of disbelief as much as excitement, with longtime supporters calling it surreal to finally see the World Cup arrive in Canada after years of waiting. The energy only intensified as fans funnelled toward the stadium, turning surrounding streets into a slow-moving procession of red and white.
The ceremony opened by honouring the country’s Indigenous Peoples and roots, placing Canada’s history and cultures at the centre of the celebrations before the first ball is kicked.
With tens of thousands of fans in attendance and millions watching around the world, the festivities marked the beginning of the first men’s World Cup match ever played on Canadian soil.
With a 1-1 draw, Team Canada made history by recording its first point in World Cup play, doing so in its opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on Friday, June 12.
SEE MORE: In Photos: Toronto comes alive with FIFA World Cup fever as Canada makes history
It was Cyle Larin who levelled the score for Team Canada in the 78th minute, after he was subbed in just minutes earlier by head coach Jesse Marsch. He hammered it into the bottom corner past Nikola Vasilj, after an assist from just outside the top of the box from Promise David, following a beautiful run from Ismaël Koné.
From ‘so proud of the boys’ to ‘Canada should’ve won’: Canadians react after the World Cup kickoff match
Reactions to Canada’s World Cup opener in Toronto spilled quickly online, with fans weighing in on everything from the atmosphere inside the stadium to the result on the pitch.
One of the standout moments of the day came long before kickoff, as hundreds of fans poured into the streets and made their way toward Toronto Stadium in a steady wave of red and white.
“TORONTO IS ON FIRE,” typed out one X user.
Another X user wrote what we were all thinking: “Literally epic, best day ever.”
A strong sense of unity was tangible across the nation, with many social media users picking up the vibe. One penned: “I love this country. Brought together by sport.”
As the match drew to a dramatic close with a 1-1 draw, many Canadians are sharing their pride for the players typing comments like, “So proud of the boys!!”
Many of the commenters were able to overlook the fact that there was no clear winner in the match and pointing to the fact that “The energy in Toronto? Unmatched.”
One X user believed “Canada should’ve won,” but settled for the experience of World Cup fever sweeping over the city.
The touch of Indigenous culture in the opening ceremony also saw some positive feedback on social media. Some commenters wrote, “Glad to see Indigenous people getting the recognition they deserve.”
Not everyone is on board with the positive vibes, with one commenter keying in, “That was a horrendous game.”
Despite where opinions land on the result, it was a historic day for Toronto and for Canada. From the early march of fans through the downtown core to the culture-rich opening ceremony and the tight, tense match that followed, it was the kind of moment that will be replayed and relived long after the final whistle.