The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest World Cup ever, with a total of 104 matches — and now Toronto can officially say it’s hosting one of the most in-demand games of the entire tournament.

According to new ticket demand data, FIFA received over 500 million ticket applications between Dec. 11 and Jan. 13, and they’ve revealed the five most requested matches based on fan demand. And here’s the headline: one of those hottest tickets is happening right here in Toronto.

The match taking the city by storm is a Round of 32 knockout game on July 2, hosted at Toronto’s expanded BMO Field. This isn’t just any match — it’s expected to feature a heavyweight showdown between the second-place teams in Group K and Group L, meaning the crowd could be watching a global powerhouse get eliminated early.

Why is Toronto’s July 2 match so in demand?

Because of who might be playing.

Group K includes major teams like:

• Portugal

• Colombia

Group L includes:

• England

• Croatia

That means Toronto could realistically host something like:
Portugal or Colombia vs. England or Croatia — a matchup stacked with global stars and historic soccer nations. In other words: a blockbuster game before the final even happens, with the energy of a playoff elimination match.

And it makes sense that demand is exploding — ticket requests are coming heavily from countries with huge football fanbases. Aside from the three host nations, the top countries for ticket demand include Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia — meaning Toronto is right in the crosshairs of major international fan travel.

Toronto is scheduled to host seven total matches during World Cup 2026, starting with Canada’s opening Toronto match on June 13, and ending with this knockout showdown on July 2.

Bottom line: Toronto didn’t just get World Cup games — it got a moment. And if this match ends up being Portugal/Colombia vs. England/Croatia, BMO Field is going to be one of the loudest places on Earth next summer.