A little more than a year from now, one of the world鈥檚 largest sporting events will arrive in 海角社区官网鈥 and a nearly $150-million facelift for BMO Field is on its way, too.
The city of 海角社区官网and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) will add roughly 17,000 temporary seats and permanently install four new video boards, among other upgrades to be completed by next March, three months before the FIFA World Cup comes to 海角社区官网in June 2026.
The city is investing $123 million in the project, while MLSE will contribute another $23 million.
BMO Field, which will host six games at the upcoming tournament, is undergoing a number of renovations made to enhance the stadium and elevate the fan experience, including expanded capacity and four new LED scoreboards. The announcement was made at the stadium on Monday with 海角社区官网Mayor Olivia Chow, executive director of Toronto's World Cup secretariat Sharon Bollenbach and Milton MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport Adam van Koeverden among those in attendance. (Mar. 3, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
Here’s what those heading to the venue will see.
New rooftop patio, upgraded concessions
While the temporary seating will be torn down soon after the World Cup, some upgrades will stay.
The stadium will add a 1,000-person rooftop patio on the north end of the stadium, as well as suite space around the venue.
A permanent, 1,000-person rooftop patio will be added to the stadium on the north end once the temporary seating is torn down.
City of TorontoFour new video boards will be installed, one at each corner of the pitch, and the stadium will add new lighting and sound systems. The Wi-Fi will be upgraded from its current 30,000-device capacity, too.
The stadium will also implement self-serve and artificial-intelligence technology 鈥 including Amazon鈥檚 no-checkout, Just Walk Out system 鈥 at concession stands and add a 鈥渟tate-of-the-art鈥 kitchen in the west grandstand.
Making seating permanent would be 鈥榩rohibitive鈥
The temporary seating 鈥 10,000 at the north end of the stadium and 7,000 at the south end 鈥 won鈥檛 stay up for long. The grandstands will have to come down by the Canadian National Exhibition in August 2026, said MLSE chief operating officer Nick Eaves.
鈥淭he window during which the actual temporary seating is relatively tight,鈥 Eaves said.
Eaves said MLSE considered making the additional seating permanent, but found the costs would be 鈥渟ignificantly higher鈥 and 鈥減rohibitive.鈥
Budget could be in flux with tariffs on the way
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he鈥檒l impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday and said there is no room left for either country to negotiate. His announcement sent stock indexes and the Canadian dollar plunging.
It could mean bad news for Toronto, whose World Cup budget has already ballooned to $380 million 鈥 a number Sharon Bollenbach, executive director of Toronto鈥檚 World Cup secretariat, said the city will hold at.
鈥淲e do have some contingency built into the budget which we, if we have to, will tap into,鈥 Bollenbach said. The city is committed to cost containment, 鈥渢ariffs or no tariffs.鈥
Other preparations in the works
The city is also implementing a temporary World Cup tax on hotel bills to help pay for the estimated $380-million tournament.
The fee 鈥 an increase of 2.5 per cent to the hotel and short-term rental tax 鈥 will be in place from June 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026, and is expected to generate $56.6 million for the city. The hotel industry has criticized the bump, saying it makes 海角社区官网a less attractive destination.
Mayor Olivia Chow has defended the tax increase. She said in November that hotels are 鈥渄oing very well鈥 and the tax will ensure they are 鈥減aying their share and sharing their wealth.鈥
Toronto, one of 16 cities across North America in line to host the tournament, will see聽six games total, five of which will be opening-round matches 鈥 including Canada鈥檚 first game at BMO Field on June 12, 2026.聽
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