Soccer enthusiasts in Toronto faced major disappointment Thursday when event organizers shut down the World Cup fan festival because of dangerous weather conditions, just one day before Canada’s opening match.
Event officials announced the evacuation through social media, stating “Out of an abundance of caution, the FIFA Fan Festival Toronto is being evacuated due to risk of lightning.”
The shutdown happened while supporters were viewing Mexico’s match against South Africa in the tournament’s first game on large outdoor screens. This marks another weather-related interruption for the championship.
Experts in sports science warn of significant weather challenges for a summer World Cup taking place across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Weather predictions show higher-than-usual temperatures expected throughout much of the U.S., with Gulf of Mexico moisture potentially creating thunderstorms and dangerous conditions during the tournament’s early stages.
Supporters expressed frustration on social media platforms, questioning whether the city was properly prepared to host tournament events, particularly after Toronto had initially faced backlash for not offering complimentary admission.
City officials changed their original approach and made free passes available in May, which were completely claimed within hours. The festival features live match viewing, dining options and entertainment programming scheduled to continue through July 19.
As one of 16 host cities for the expanded 48-nation World Cup, Toronto will present six games, beginning with Canada’s matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.
