Beyond the Match: Soccer for All Builds Lasting FIFA World Cup 2026™ Legacy in Toronto

A Soccer team posing for a photo on the pitch near the net.

When the world comes to Toronto for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the energy will be felt far beyond the stadium. From match-day excitement to neighbourhood watch parties, including the FIFA Fan Festival™, the tournament will bring people together in celebration of the global game.

But in Toronto, the story doesn’t end with the final whistle. Toronto’s approach to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is grounded in a simple idea: major global events should leave a meaningful legacy at the local level.

The City of Toronto took a deliberate, community-focused approach to ensure that the benefits of hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026™ are felt long after the tournament concludes, including creating a legacy rooted in equity, access and opportunity for residents in priority neighbourhoods across the city.

That vision is already coming to life through the Soccer for All Legacy Program, a City-led initiative that at its core, is about removing barriers and expanding access to sport. On May 22, the City – represented by Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie, Parks and Recreation General Manager Terry Ricketts – alongside students, parents and teachers from Cedar Drive Junior Public School, soccer legend and Scarborough-native Dwayne DeRosario and key donors opened the first of its Soccer for All mini-pitch locations at Scarborough Village Park.

Through partnerships with community organizations, donors and the private sector, Toronto is creating new spaces and programming that ensure young people — regardless of their background or postal code — have the opportunity to play, learn and thrive.

A Legacy You Can Feel

Across Toronto, new soccer mini-pitches are already opening in priority neighbourhoods, including Scarborough Village, Amesbury, Grandravine and Humber River–Black Creek.

These high-quality, accessible facilities are more than just places to play. They are safe, welcoming spaces designed for skill-building, recreation and community connection with fully enclosed, illuminated turf fields and free programming for youth and families.

Importantly, this investment includes a multi-year commitment to free instructional programs, camps and open community access, ensuring that the benefits of these spaces continue well beyond 2026.

A large group of adults and kids soccer team posing for a photo. A kid in the middle holds up a piece of a cut blue ribbon that reads "Toronto"

Powered by Partnership

This legacy is built through collaboration. The City of Toronto, working alongside the Champions Table, a group of business and philanthropic leaders, has to date raised $8.2 million to support Soccer for All.

These investments are separate from tournament operations and are dedicated entirely to local legacy projects that serve Toronto residents.

From the excitement of the FIFA Fan Festival™ to new community spaces in neighbourhood parks, Toronto’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ story is one of both celebration and legacy.

It’s about the shared moments, cheering with thousands of fans, experiencing the game in new ways, and about what those moments make possible: stronger communities, more opportunities for youth and a more connected city.

Because in Toronto, hosting the world is just the beginning.