Skip to main content
EN
FR

Toronto Celebrated 100 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a Global Party at Rebel

Toronto marked the milestone with a high-energy celebration at Rebel, where more than 3,500 fans gathered to experience music, culture and flavours from seven nations heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

With 100 Days to Go until the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Toronto turned up the excitement with a massive celebration at Rebel on March 5. More than 3,500 fans attended the waterfront venue for a high-energy night of music, culture, soccer legends and global flavours.

The first 100 guests received the coveted FIFA World Cup 2026™ Toronto scarves, soon joining a crowd filled with soccer jerseys, traditional cultural wear and flags from the participating nations.

The free, all-ages celebration captured the essence of Toronto itself—diverse, vibrant and ready to welcome the world. Seven nations set to play at Toronto Stadium were represented through performances, food and cultural showcases: Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Germany, Ghana, Panama and Senegal.

The city will host six FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches, including the first-ever men’s FIFA World Cup™ match played on Canadian soil on June 12.

If the energy inside Rebel was any indication, Toronto is more than ready.

Hosted by Ontario’s Poet Laureate Randell Adjei, the evening unfolded as a fast-paced celebration of culture, community and the beautiful game.

The stage became a global showcase of music and dance as performers representing the seven nations brought their traditions to life.

Indigenous artists representing Canada opened the celebration with traditional First Nations dance, Métis fiddle music and Inuit throat singing. Croatia followed with vibrant folk dance performances, while Senegal’s legendary talking drum rhythms pulsed through the venue.

Ghana’s showcase featured a striking King and Queen procession and a powerful dance finale, while Panama delivered a Latin music moment that included a performance from Latin Grammy-nominated artist Fito Blanko.

Germany kept the party going with crowd-pleasing anthems from The Golden Keys, while DJ Cozmic Cat spun a global soundtrack that kept the energy high all night.

Upstairs, guests watched Toronto-based illustrator Dave Murray, creator of the city’s official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Toronto Host City poster, bring a live painting to life during the celebration.

Soccer pros meet fans

Fans also had the rare opportunity to meet some of the game’s biggest names during autograph sessions throughout the evening.

Among the soccer stars greeting fans were:

  • Dwayne DeRosario, Canadian soccer legend, former Canada Men’s National Team star and Official Toronto FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host City Ambassador
  • Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC and Canada Men’s National Team midfielder
  • Armando Cooper, Panama National Team star
  • Sebastian Giovinco, former Toronto FC icon and MLS MVP
  • Jonelle Filigno, former Team Canada star and Olympic bronze medalist

A culinary tour of the World Cup

Guests sampled flavours from around the globe, inspired by the nations competing in Toronto—from classic Canadian poutine and maple butter tarts to Panamanian empanadas, German pretzels, Senegalese akara fritters, Ghanaian beef suya, Croatian burek and Ivorian sweet fried plantains.

Each station offered a taste of the cultures that will come together in Toronto during the tournament.

Host City supporters bring the fan experience to life

The celebration also featured activations from Toronto’s Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host City Supporters, giving fans a glimpse of the partnerships helping bring the tournament to life.

Fans explored experiences from Humber Polytechnic and Ontario Power Generation (OPG), two supporters helping drive fan engagement, community programming and legacy initiatives tied to the tournament.

Toronto FC, newly announced as an Official Toronto World Cup 2026™ Host City Supporter, was also well represented throughout the evening. Club legends and players met fans and signed autographs, highlighting Toronto’s deep soccer culture as the city prepares to welcome the world.

Toronto is ready to welcome the world

The celebration was more than just a party—it was a powerful reminder of Toronto’s identity as “The World in a City,” bringing together cultures, communities and fans from around the globe.

With venues, fan experiences and legacy initiatives moving from planning to reality, the city is gearing up to deliver an unforgettable tournament experience for residents and visitors alike.

Discover what’s ahead as Toronto prepares to host the world. Learn about legacy initiatives, community programming and fan experiences in the full press release (link opens in new window).