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My FIFA World Cup Diary: Heat and security are taking their toll
While Environment Canada has forecast a high of 35C in Toronto for Thursday, things will cool off by the evening. It’s expected to be closer to 31C when action kicks off at 7 p.m. between Portugal and Croatia.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Thu, 02, Jul 2026
- 17:41 EDT
- 26
Beat the heat steps poster / @FWC26Toronto
Nature has reiterated its supremacy forcing the host city of Toronto to cancel some of the fan parties organised in different parts of the city to enable the soccer enthusiasts who could not buy tickets to watch the FIFA World Cup matches. The City of Toronto and Soccer Canada have organised big screens for the soccer enthusiasts to watch these games at these select centres.
However, the official advent of summer season last Sunday, has made it harder for the soccer fans to gather in huge numbers at these fan centres to watch the ongoing games. Hot weather has led to World Cup viewing parties axed outside Toronto City Hall, a popular public centre that serves as a venue for major social and cultural events.
While cancelling the “view parties” outside the City Hall, authorities cited 'extreme heat forecast and the demand on resources to ensure the safety of all' for the cancellation.
The impact of the “extreme heat conditions” could be gauged from the fact that for the first time the Media Centre at Toronto Stadium has provided drinking water to scribes covering the World Cup.
On social media late Wednesday night, the city cited an “extreme heat forecast” and the demand on resources to ensure the safety of all” for the sudden cancellation of Thursday’s watch parties at Nathan Phillip Square.
While Environment Canada has forecast a high of 35C in Toronto for Thursday, things will cool off by the evening. It’s expected to be closer to 31C when action kicks off at 7 p.m. between Portugal and Croatia.
The game that was played at Toronto Stadium had some sobering impact as the weather started cooling down by several degrees than what it was in the forenoon. Late evening viewing parties, however, were held as scheduled at Fan Fest and throughout the city, including Harbourfront.
It is not heat alone that the authorities are trying to control. Another major concern has been the security not only at view centres but also in and around both Toronto Stadium and the Centennial Park, the training ground for the teams.
Yesterday, when Christian Ronaldo Portugal team went for its training, crowds, especially the Portuguese population of Toronto, wanted to have a close glimpse of Ronaldo and their other stars.
The Police, ably assisted by private security agencies, have been doing a great job by keeping players, officials, spectators and local citizens safe.
In an email sent to some media houses, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) maintained it was “well positioned to support FIFA-related events … while maintaining policing operations across the city.
“In addition to tournament-related activity, Toronto is also experiencing extreme heat, which can increase demand across a range of city services,” the statement said.
Because of the high demand for the FIFA World Cup, the police have been bearing the brunt as security resources come after a staffing crunch at the private security contractor the city hired to handle the World Cup.
The agency had its own problems as some of the workers hired by it failed to show up.
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