Toronto will play host to its last FIFA World Cup group stage match Friday, as Senegal and Iraq both desperately look for a win to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Senegal enters this afternoon’s contest as the favourite, ranked 19th in the world over Iraq’s 60th-place position.
Neither Iraq nor Senegal have won a game yet in their stacked Group I, which also includes Norway and the second-ranked team in the tournament: France. Both of those teams have already punched their ticket to the Round of 32.
But a win today from either side may be enough to secure a spot in the knockout round, as the eight best third-place teams will advance.
CTV News and CP24 will have live coverage leading up to and following the 3 p.m. kickoff.
Follow along here for live updates:
10:30 a.m. – Toronto to see sun and cloud mix
The conditions for Friday’s match will be mainly cloudy with a high of 25 C.
Humidity will make it feel closer to 30 with the humidity.
Clouds will persist into the evening hours following the final whistle, but Toronto is expected to stay dry for fans leaving Toronto Stadium after the match.
– Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist
10:15 a.m. – Senegal, Iraq fan marches confirmed
Toronto police say fan marches for both Iraq and Senegal will take place later today and are advising drivers to expect delays in the area.
Iraq fans are set to congregate at Stanley Park, near King Street West and Strachan Avenue at 12 p.m., before marching to Coronation Park.
An hour later, the Senegal supporters will depart from Trinity Bellwoods Park and march down Strachan to Coronation Park.
Police tell CP24 that some 3,000 Iraq fans and 400 Senegal fans are expected at their respected marches.
– Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist
10 a.m. – Road closures in effect
Much of the area surrounding Toronto Stadium at Exhibition Place and the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York are now closed to traffic.
Lake Shore Boulevard West is shut down from Bathurst Street to British Columbia Road. Roads are expected to reopen at 8 p.m.
FIFA Road Closures A map of Toronto’s FIFA road closures is seen here. (City of Toronto)
Manitoba Drive and most of Strachan Avenue is also closed. Traffic between Dufferin Street and Strachan, north of the Gardiner Expressway, is limited to local traffic only.
Toronto police have said that additional road closures may take effect as fan marches get underway this afternoon.
– Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist