photo illustration by maclean’s; source images: getty images/istock

World Cup Mania

All eyes are on Canada for the sporting event of the summer. We’ve rounded up 14 ways to make the most of soccer’s big moment.

By Alex Cyr, Anthony Milton and Jadine Ngan

June 1, 2026

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For the first time ever, Canada is hosting the World Cup—and it couldn’t come at a more opportune moment. As we teeter on the brink of World War III, it’s refreshing to watch countries compete in an arena where the stakes are not conquest and death but trophies and bragging rights. On the field, we cheat, we spit, we foul, we rage. But in the end we listen to the ref, accept our punishment, absorb our defeats and come back and do it all again next time. A rules-based order—remember that? There are plenty of reasons to complain about the Cup if you want to go looking for them: ticket prices, traffic, our co-hosts. But if you’d rather focus on the joyful abandon of the summer’s biggest sporting event—and if you’d like to spend a month eating, drinking, cheering and crying with eight billion of your closest friends—the following stories will guide you through it all.

1. Check Out Toronto’s Tricked-out Stadium

Featuring $160 million worth of upgrades, themed concession snacks, thousands more seats and a shiny new pitch

Colourful illustrations of the street celebrating World Cup under the blue sky. Kids, adults, families and friends are smiling at each other and taking pictures besides the trees and big mushrooms. Soccer balls are popping around. A soccer player in the red uniform, dribbling, is being a huge cardboard panel in the centre.

2. Party in the Streets

The World Cup will turn the whole country into one festival. Here’s where to eat, drink and revel.

A soccer player (Alphonso Davies) is clapping hands above his head. Behind him is the blurred figures of the audience at the seats

3. Watch Alphonso Davies Score

The superstar winger is Team Canada’s not-so-secret weapon

Five soccer players (Jonathan David, Stephen Eustáquio, Tajon Buchanan, Ismaël Koné, Dayne St. Clair and Jacob Shaffelburg, from left to right), each cropped from different pictures during games. Behind them is a blue coloured background

4. Get to Know Team Canada

The superstars, stalwarts and prodigies fighting to bring the World Cup home

Wide, aerial shot of the BC Place, with buildings and the mountains in the background.

5. Take In the Game at BC Place

The Whitecaps’ long-time home is finally ready to welcome a global audience, with new event spaces, gorgeous new grass and even a custom mac-and-cheese stand

A golden replica of World Cup trophy made of LEGO blocks on the light green coloured background.

6. Build Your Own World Cup Trophy

Lego’s FIFA-themed kits come with gold bricks and secret compartments

A mini soccer pitch captured directly from above. People are playing in the field.

7. Kick Off at Canada’s New Mini Pitches

Toronto and B.C. will keep the soccer fever going with a series of adorable tiny turfs

A collage of pictures of the five bars and restaurants (RendezViews, The Play Book Commons, Pub Burgundy Lion, Score on Davie, RendezViews, on clockwise) with grain and burgundy toned filter on it.

8. Cheer on Team Canada at the Country’s Coolest Sports Bars

These drinking holes come with massive screens, dance parties and fan hives galore

Five soccer players (Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Mohammed Kudus, Amad Diallo and Kevin De Bruyne, from left to right), each cropped from different picture during games. Behind them is a blue coloured back ground

9. Marvel at These Global Soccer Stars

Some of the best athletes to ever kick a ball will be playing on Canadian soil for the first (and maybe only) time. Here’s who to watch.

Sepia toned, black-and-white picture in which 15 men are lining up, posing for the picture. A huge, shiny trophy is put in front of them, and under that, a hand-written note says "Chinese students football club B.C. mainland champions - 1982-33."

10. See Some Sporty Art

The Chinese Canadian Museum’s new exhibit pays homage to forgotten athletes

A black sweater with wine red long sleeves, a red half-sleeve sports wear with Nike and Canada Soccer logos on it and a white & red baseball hat

11. Buy Cool Merch

Where to score Team Canada’s most covetable gear

An illustration of the Freedom Mobile Arch. The back of the people sitting on the grass under the mass timber roof, watching the World Cup game on the big screen in front of them.

12. Check Out Vancouver’s New Freedom Arch

The city’s gorgeous mass-timber concert space is a primo viewing spot

On the emerald blue background, a black-and-white image of soccer ball is hopping on the Canadian map, traced by a red dashed line.

13. Celebrate Across the Country

Vancouver and Toronto aren’t Canada’s only World Cup party spots

An aerial wide shot captures the Nobu Hotel twin tower. surrounded by the other tall buildings including the CN Tower. Behind them are the Lake Ontario and the Toronto Island.

14. Stay at Toronto’s New Nobu Hotel

Come for the serene Japanese vibes, stay for the world’s best room service

This story appears in the June 2026 issue of Maclean’s. You can subscribe to the magazine here or send a gift subscription here.

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