Toronto is where Canada's World Cup begins. BMO Field on the Lake Ontario waterfront hosts six matches, including Canada's opening game, and the whole city — one of the most multicultural on earth — will be buzzing for a month. Here is how to make the most of it.

BMO Field: a stadium on the lake

BMO Field sits at Exhibition Place on the Toronto waterfront, about 20 minutes by streetcar from downtown. For the World Cup it has been expanded to more than 45,000 seats, with new stands and improved facilities. It is a compact, atmospheric stadium where every seat feels close to the pitch. The best way there is the 509 Harbourfront streetcar from Union Station, or the GO train to Exhibition station. Arrive early: security queues on match days can take up to an hour, and the lakefront setting means the walk from the station is part of the experience.

Canada's opener: the biggest night in Toronto football

Toronto hosts Canada's first match of the tournament, and the city will be electric. The Canadian team, led by Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, will have the whole country behind them, and the BMO Field crowd will be a wall of red. If you can get a ticket, this is the match to chase. If you cannot, the Fan Festival and the big screens in Nathan Phillips Square will be the next best thing — Toronto's multicultural neighbourhoods will turn the opener into a street party.

Where to stay: downtown or the lakefront

The obvious base is downtown Toronto, around Union Station: from there, the streetcar, subway and GO trains reach everywhere, including BMO Field. Hotel X Toronto is the only hotel inside Exhibition Place, under a ten-minute walk from the stadium, but rates during match weeks run CAD $1,045 to $1,275 per night. More affordable options include the Gladstone House on Queen Street West and university residences, which opened rooms from CAD $199 a night. Book refundable rooms early — Toronto is one of the most in-demand cities of the tournament.

Food: the world on a plate

Toronto's food scene is its superpower. In one day you can eat dim sum in Chinatown, jerk chicken in Little Jamaica, fresh pasta in Little Italy on College Street, and poutine at a late-night diner. The St. Lawrence Market, one of the best food markets in North America, is a perfect pre-match stop. Around the stadium, Liberty Village has a growing cluster of restaurants and pubs that will be packed with supporters on match days.

Between matches: islands, neighbourhoods and the CN Tower

Take the ferry from downtown to the Toronto Islands for a beach afternoon with the skyline behind you. Walk Kensington Market for vintage shops and street food, explore the Distillery District's cobbled lanes, and go up the CN Tower at sunset. Toronto rewards wandering: every neighbourhood has its own character, its own food and its own football community, and during the World Cup they will all be celebrating.

Frequently asked questions

The Canadian welcome: what makes Toronto different

Toronto is the most multicultural city in the tournament, with more than half its residents born outside Canada, and that shows on match days. Every team that plays here will find a community cheering for them — the city has neighbourhoods for almost every nation in the tournament. That makes Toronto uniquely welcoming for travelling fans: wherever you come from, someone in Toronto speaks your language and cooks your food. It is the friendliest host city in the tournament, and the one where a travelling fan is least likely to feel like a stranger.

How many matches does Toronto host? Six, at BMO Field, from June 12 to July 2. How do I get to BMO Field? Streetcar 509 from Union Station or GO train to Exhibition station. Where should I stay? Downtown Toronto, near Union Station. Is there a Fan Festival? Yes, at Nathan Phillips Square and other central locations. What is the weather like? Warm and humid in June, 20-28°C, with occasional thunderstorms.