Toronto’s traffic issues will get worse during FIFA World Cup as city ponders plan
Global News
Toronto will host six matches at Exhibition Place's BMO Field between June and July, with fans of teams like Germany, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire set to descend upon the city.
Traffic levels in Toronto are likely to be as much as 15 per cent higher than normal when the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives in June, with plans underway to limit downtown parking, close highway on/off ramps and suspend some major construction projects.
Toronto will host six matches at Exhibition Place’s BMO Field between June and July, with fans of teams like Germany, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire set to descend upon the city.
A note from the City of Toronto’s manager to Coun. Josh Matlow, included on this week’s council agenda, shared brief details of the impact that will have on the city’s already gridlocked downtown.
Modelling completed earlier this year by city staff showed a 10 to 15 per cent increase in traffic on key downtown corridors. Those numbers will be highest for the sixth match in Toronto, which is a Round of 32 knockout.
“Staff have begun refining the modelling numbers to better understand the impacts to vehicular, pedestrian, cycling and public transit riders,” the city manager wrote in his response.
Toronto will table its traffic management plan around March, a strategy which will limit parking in the downtown and make it possible to close certain on/off ramps if they’re contributing to congestion around the stadium.
The city will also create designated routes for travel to and from the games, where traffic signal modifications will be made to give priority to the direction of travel.
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