The renovated BMO Field stadium was unveiled on Tuesday (24) by the city of Toronto for the 2026 World Cup, amid questions about the safety of its temporary stands.
BMO Field is the smallest of the 16 stadiums that will host games at the World Cup, organized jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada, from June 11th to July 19th.
With a usual capacity of 28,000 spectators, the venue needed a series of improvements to meet FIFA standards, including the addition of 17,000 extra seats.
“The stands will be completely safe,” said Nick Eaves, director of operations for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the company that manages the stadium.
At the beginning of March, images of the scaffolding supporting the temporary bleachers began to circulate on the internet, and the reviews were not positive.
“With all due respect, I wouldn’t go up, stand or sit there for all the gold in the world,” read a post from a fan at X.
Eaves said Toronto has partnered with a world-leading temporary bleacher company, Arena Group, and that the online controversy surrounding the structures was unfounded.
The director added that the temporary seats will undergo a general test on May 9th when Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami visit BMO Field to face Toronto FC in a sold-out MLS game.
FIFA will take control of the stadium on May 13, a month before the first World Cup match in Toronto.
The Executive Director of the World Cup Organizing Committee in Toronto, Sharon Bollenbach, stated that BMO Field has received “multiple visits” from FIFA and is “approved” to host the six matches scheduled for the city.
“We are confident we will have one of the best pitches among the 16 host cities,” said Chris Shewfelt, vice-president of commercial operations at Toronto FC.
