Building a Greener Legacy for Toronto

In Toronto, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is about more than the match. It’s about what comes after. The City of Toronto is using this global stage to rethink how large events can help build a cleaner, healthier and more resilient future, creating a greener legacy that lasts well beyond the final whistle.

Across FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto, you’ll notice small details that help reduce waste. Water refill stations cut down on single-use plastic bottles, tri-colour bins make it easier to sort and manage waste and signage has been designed to be reused and repurposed beyond the event. These efforts are helping set a new standard for how major events can operate.

Rethinking Solutions that Encourage Reuse & Waste Reduction

At the Casamigos Clubhouse, the City is working with a local partner to make reusable cups and foodware part of the fan experience. Items are collected, washed and returned for reuse, keeping materials in circulation and reducing single-use items. It’s a practical example of how circular systems can work in a busy, real-world setting.

This approach extends across the festival site. Many kiosks and service areas are built with modular components that can be dismantled and reused after the tournament, reducing the need for new materials.

Sustainability is also reflected in how food is managed. In partnership with Second Harvest, surplus food from vendors is rescued and redistributed to community organizations helping to support people across the city.

These efforts are being carefully monitored – by tracking waste, reuse and recovery data - and refined, giving the City valuable insights that will help shape how events are planned and delivered.

Improving Performance Behind the Scenes

Beyond the fan experience, the City is making long-term investments in its venues and operations. Facilities connected to FIFA World Cup 2026™ have been upgraded and built to meet the highest environmental standards. The stadium has achieved LEED Gold certification while the training facility is a new high-performance build, designed to meet highest tier of the Toronto Green Standard. Together these investments demonstrate the City’s commitment to sustainable building design, supporting Toronto’s long-term transition to net zero by 2040.

Behind the scenes, the same approach is guiding operations. City services supporting the FIFA World Cup 2026™ are using electric and hybrid vehicles where possible, building on existing systems to reduce emissions now while advancing Toronto’s goal to eliminate climate pollution.

These are not temporary measures for a single event; they are lasting improvements that will continue to benefit Toronto well into the future.

Growing Toronto’s Urban Forest

The legacy also extends beyond buildings and infrastructure, to investing in natural spaces. As part of FIFA’s sustainability efforts, more than 60,000 native trees and shrubs are being planted in Centennial Park, alongside 500 additional trees and shrubs at Biidaasige Park with support from community volunteers.

Over time, these additions will restore habitat, support biodiversity and strengthen Toronto’s urban forest and help achieve Toronto’s goal of reaching 40 per cent canopy cover by 2050. They will also help the city adapt to the impacts of climate change including extreme heat and heavy rainfall by providing shade, cooling, and improved air and water quality, creating healthier spaces for residents and visitors.

When the crowds head home and the matches come to an end, the impact will remain. What is being built today is not just a successful event, it is a stronger, more sustainable Toronto and the City is using this moment to learn what works and building on it.