An Inter Miami–Toronto FC match at the redesigned BMO Field on Saturday served as a critical dress rehearsal for the FIFA World Cup next month. A sellout crowd of approximately 44,828 fans attended the MLS matinee, with about 17,000 spectators occupying new grandstand seats added specifically for the tournament, as Inter Miami won 4–2.
The match tested the venue's expanded capacity and operational readiness ahead of Canada's World Cup opener on June 12 against Bosnia-Herzegovina. CBC's Greg Ross spoke with fans about whether they believe the stadium and the city are ready to host the global tournament.
Longtime TFC fan Trevor Ellis praised the sightlines from the new north grandstand. "It's almost the perfect seat, like the front row and the back row are both really cool in that way," Ellis said. "You can see the entire pitch. The sightline is pretty good. You've got the skyline in the background and the lake — it looks beautiful".
However, the match also exposed areas needing refinement. A few thousand seats remained empty at kickoff as fans navigated lineups and fencing around the stadium's perimeter. The grandstand concourse had a temporary outdoor tent feel, and the walk to the stadium felt like the venue was still a work in progress rather than a finished product, according to observers.
Jaime Garcia of Toronto expressed concern about the stadium's external appearance. "I think the structure had to look better than this, especially when you have people coming from other countries and comparing it to other stadiums, in North America, everywhere, in Mexico," Garcia said.
The city is preparing additional infrastructure for World Cup visitors. The TTC plans to add service, express shuttles, and later trains to transport fans to and from World Cup games. Toronto police are expecting an uptick in protests as the World Cup puts the city on centre stage.
