Toronto Stadium, the World Cup name for BMO Field, has moved through a major venue upgrade before hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, with ESPN and The Associated Press reporting positive early reviews of the expanded setup at the home of Toronto FC and the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.
The project was reported at £74.8 million, or $100 million, and included 17,000 temporary seats. ESPN/AP reported that the work brought the stadium to FIFA's 45,000-seat minimum for tournament use.
Temporary Seats Lift Toronto Capacity
The stadium is better known as BMO Field, but FIFA sponsorship rules have it operating as Toronto Stadium during the World Cup. The temporary seating and permanent upgrades are part of the city's preparation to use a regular MLS and CFL venue for a tournament with larger capacity and operational demands.
Toronto FC opened the temporary stands to fans on May 9 for a match against Inter Miami. ESPN/AP reported that the game drew a venue-record crowd of more than 44,000, giving organizers a practical test before World Cup matchdays.
The upgraded sections are not the stadium's first temporary expansion. ESPN/AP reported that the venue added 6,000 seats in 2016 to host the Grey Cup, MLS Cup and NHL Centennial Classic. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment said the current seating is similar to that earlier setup, with improved technology.
Six World Cup Matches In Toronto
Toronto Stadium is scheduled to host six World Cup matches. The first is Canada's opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, giving the venue an immediate high-attention assignment in front of a home crowd.
The Toronto work fits a wider World Cup venue pattern. ESPN/AP reported that multiple stadiums in the United States have made tournament-specific changes, including natural-grass installations over artificial turf at seven venues and seat removals at some stadiums to meet FIFA field-size requirements.
For Toronto, the news value is concrete rather than ceremonial. A stadium built for club soccer and Canadian football has been expanded, tested in front of more than 44,000 fans, and placed into a six-match World Cup role.