Portugal beats Croatia in Toronto's final men's World Cup match
Ronaldo and thousands of fans descended on Toronto Stadium Thursday night for the Round of 32 knockout game as the city hosts its last tournament match.
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Portugal advanced past Croatia in the Round of 32 on Thursday, July 2 at Toronto Stadium, marking the city's final men's World Cup match of the 2026 tournament.
Thousands of Portuguese and Croatian supporters filled downtown Toronto for fan marches ahead of the 7 p.m. kickoff. Portugal's parade started at 3:30 p.m. from Stanley Park, while Croatian fans departed from Croatia House around 5 p.m., with crowds gathering around the stadium and across the Entertainment District.
The match carried extra weight for two aging stars: Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modrić, 40, both of whom could be playing in their final World Cup. Ronaldo's arrival in the city earlier this week drew thousands of fans to the Delta Hotel, and ticket prices surged — get-in prices exceeded $2,500 and rose 6 percent overnight as game day approached.
Extreme heat and thunderstorm warnings affected the day's festivities. Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm risk for Thursday afternoon and evening, with temperatures reaching 35°C and feeling close to 45°C with humidity. The City of Toronto cancelled the broadcast screening at Nathan Phillips Square due to the extreme heat forecast, though the FIFA Fan Festival at 250 Fort York Boulevard remained open with enhanced heat relief measures including misting stations and shaded cooling areas.
The winner advanced to face either Spain or Austria in the next round.
