Canada is co-hosting a World Cup for the first time ever, and Toronto’s BMO Field gets the honor of staging Canada’s matches, including the nation’s opener. The city is going to lose its mind, in the most polite Canadian way possible. And here’s my favorite part: Toronto is “Hollywood North,” one of the busiest film cities on Earth — it’s just usually pretending to be somewhere else.
You’ve seen Toronto a hundred times and called it New York. Sorry to break it to you.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Venue | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada |
| Role | Canada’s matches, including the opener |
| Nickname | Hollywood North |
| Doubles as | New York, Chicago, and more on screen |
| Schedule | See official FIFA fixtures |
Table of Contents
Toronto on screen
Toronto is a chameleon. It played itself in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Mean Girls, doubled as Chicago for the Oscar-winning musical Chicago, and stood in for New York in American Psycho. Its mix of glass towers, leafy neighborhoods, and classic architecture means it can be almost any North American city — which is exactly why studios love it. Explore more Toronto filming locations and the wider Canada archive on our site.
Make a movie-and-match trip
My plan: a match at BMO Field on the lake, then the Distillery District, Kensington Market, and a CN Tower view to spot all the places you’ve seen on screen without realizing it. For the full tournament map, see our World Cup 2026 hub and the USA vs Paraguay opener guide.
Then & now
This is historic: Canada has only ever qualified for a men’s World Cup a couple of times, and now it’s hosting one. Toronto being a film capital just makes the whole thing extra cinematic. Exact match dates are on the FIFA fixtures page.
More Toronto filming spots
Toronto’s screen cameos are everywhere once you know where to look. Casa Loma has played everything from an X-Men school to a Chicago backdrop, the CN Tower anchors the skyline, and the Distillery District’s cobblestones double for old-world Europe. Kensington Market brought the color to Scott Pilgrim, and the waterfront constantly stands in for other cities.
Great news for World Cup visitors: Toronto is wonderfully transit-friendly, and BMO Field sits on the Exhibition grounds right by the lake, reachable by streetcar and GO Transit. The city is one of the most multicultural on Earth, so whatever team you support, you’ll find a neighborhood celebrating with you — and the food scene reflects that beautifully.
Here’s why I’m excited: this is Canada’s first time co-hosting a men’s World Cup, so expect the normally low-key Canadian energy to crank up to levels even the locals didn’t know they had. Toronto being a film capital just makes it extra cinematic — you’ll spend half your visit going “wait, THAT was filmed here?” It’s history in the making. Keep exploring with our World Cup 2026 hub and the USA vs Paraguay opener.
Frequently asked questions
What stadium is hosting the World Cup in Toronto?
BMO Field, home of Toronto FC, hosts Canada’s matches including the nation’s opener.
Why is Toronto called Hollywood North?
It is one of the busiest film and TV production hubs in the world and frequently doubles for U.S. cities on screen.
What movies were filmed in Toronto?
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Mean Girls, Chicago, and American Psycho, among many others.
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