World Cup officially kicks off as Toronto braces for tournament
The biggest FIFA tournament in history starts today, with Canada hosting matches and fan festivals throughout June and July.
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The FIFA World Cup officially begins today with Mexico vs. South Africa at 3 p.m., marking the start of the biggest tournament in the event's history.
Canada is co-hosting with the United States and Mexico, running through July 19. Toronto will host six matches at Toronto Stadium, while Vancouver hosts seven. The city hosted a spirited countdown concert Wednesday night featuring Bryan Adams, Wyclef Jean, Nora Fatehi and The Beaches before thousands of cheering fans.
Canada's first-ever men's World Cup match on home soil takes place Friday, when the team faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. Alanis Morissette will sing the national anthem, with performances by Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, William Prince and Sanjoy.
Throughout the tournament, daily FIFA Fan Festivals will run in both Canadian host cities. Toronto will feature artists including Alessia Cara, Murda Beatz and French Montana. Vancouver will host Mötley Crüe, Broken Social Scene and Kaytranada.
The tournament has drawn criticism from some Torontonians over exorbitant ticket prices and traffic disruptions, though organizers emphasize free fan experiences and infrastructure improvements made for the games.