Senegal faces Iraq in Toronto Friday as World Cup energy peaks
African teams are dominating the city's vibe during the tournament. Ghana and Ivory Coast have already played at Toronto Stadium; more African nations could follow.
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Toronto is riding a wave of African energy during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Three of the city's World Cup matches feature top African sides — and the party is just getting started.
Ghana already played a June 15 match at Toronto Stadium, beating Panama 1-0 in front of thousands of fervent supporters who danced, chanted, and passionately reacted to every play. Brandon Thomas-Asante, who assisted the winning goal, said the community's excitement was palpable. "We're happy because we do see that a lot of people are excited when Ghana are at the World Cup, because of that vibe that we bring," he said.
Ivory Coast brought similar energy in a Saturday match, with fans waving the team off from their hotel before kickoff and later surrounding players as they picked up pastries from Toronto's Dacasto Gran Pasticceria. Franck Kessié scored to give Ivory Coast a 1-0 lead. Supporter Yannick Logbo described Ontario's Ivory Coast fanbase as "electric," with many gathering at the fan zone in Milton.
Senegal takes on Iraq in Toronto on Friday, June 26. Depending on how Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo finish in their groups, the city could also host an African nation in a Round of 32 match on July 2.
For Toronto's African communities, the tournament offers a rare chance to watch some of the continent's top teams play in a World Cup close to home. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Akwasi Osei-Tutu, who attended the Ghana-Panama game after finishing work downtown.
Toronto's Sankofa Square also hosted The Global Kickoff, a two-day Pan-African festival created to welcome local communities and World Cup travellers. Event organizer Akua Mensah said the festival's goal was to "get people excited for all of the African teams that are playing here in the city this week."