BMO Field: Iconic Moments at the GIS Hub Set to Host 2026 World Cup Games

Whether it’s Brussels, Melbourne, or London, GIS is proud to call some of the world’s greatest sporting cities home.

Toronto is another, and as part of our Iconic Moments series, this article will explore the sporting prestige of both the city and BMO Field, where GIS students can travel as part of our signature Global Summits.

Built on the site of the old Exhibition Stadium which was demolished in 1999 and turned into a parking lot, BMO Field first opened in 2007 and is Canada’s first football-specific stadium. 

One of two stadiums where the Canadian Men’s National Team plays its home games, the venue is the permanent home of MLS side Toronto FC, as well as the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts. 

Toronto FC was the second of three Canadian teams to play in the MLS, and in 2017 became the first MLS team to complete a domestic treble.

The only non-US team to win the MLS Cup, Toronto FC joined the competition in 2005, and has enjoyed a host of iconic moments since.

Toronto FC fans will know the name Danny Dichio all too well, as in 2007, his goal was the club’s first. A 24th minute tap-in, fans still sing at this point in the game to commemorate the moment.

A few months later, the stadium was an important venue for the U-20 FIFA World Cup, hosting the final where Argentina beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in front of 19,000. 

The game featured a Sergio Agüero equaliser that saw him take home the tournament’s golden boot award with six goals. The tournament seemed to be a showcase for iconic strikers, also featuring Alexandre Pato, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suárez and Javier Hernández.

But it isn’t just football that’s played at BMO Field. Across all sports, the largest attendance ever recorded at the stadium was over 40,000, when the Toronto Maple Leafs played an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings in 2017. This game was the NHL Centennial Classic, which Toronto won 5-4 after an Auston Matthews goal the first NHL outdoor fixture ever played in the city.

This saw the stadium temporarily expanded beyond its 28,000 capacity, a move repeated for the 2016 MLS Cup game between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders.

This temporary upgrade is set to happen again, with the city of Toronto announcing in March that plans were in place to improve BMO Field ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

17,000 additional seats will be added to the north and south stands, bringing its total capacity to 45,000. The $150 million renovation will also include upgrades to the changing rooms and broadcast infrastructure, bringing the GIS hub up to FIFA World Cup standards.

This is all to prepare for the first ever World Cup match to be held in Canada, with BMO Field set to host six games.

With the largest sporting spectacle in the world coming to BMO Field, it’s a great time to visit the venue, with GIS students able to travel to Toronto for exclusive stadium tours, industry talks, and behind-the-scenes insights into daily operations.

The stadium is also home to GIS networking events, which are a great way to build valuable connections in the sports industry.

To learn more, visit our GIS Global Summit page.

Article by Zakaria Anani