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As Toronto inches closer to the 2026 FIFA World Cup it is wrapping up preparations, including a potential partnership with nearby regions for emergency paramedic support.
On Tuesday the city’s executive committee passed a motion to work together with Durham, York and Peel regions to support two kilometers of Toronto’s boundaries with any paramedic response while the global soccer tournament takes place in the city.
The motion will now go before Toronto city council and, if passed, would be temporarily implemented on event days between June 11 and July 2 this year.
The recommendation was made to the city last month through a report by the City of Toronto’s FIFA World Cup 2026 executive director Sharon Bollenbach and Toronto Paramedic Services chief Bikram Chawla.
The report stated that over 230,000 daily visitors are expected in Toronto during the World Cup, which will increase demand on the medical emergency response system and transportation networks.
It stated the response strategy would maintain emergency medical coverage in Toronto, balance the workload on frontline staff and help Toronto host a safe event.
Implementation of the integrated response model would cost around $800,000 and come out of the World Cup portion of the Toronto paramedics’ operating budget this year, according to the report.
Toronto focusing on readiness and execution: Bollenbach
With just one month to go before the tournament’s start in Toronto, the city has finished its planning and is now completely focused on readiness and execution, said Bollenbach at a news conference Tuesday morning.
“Definitely a few final things to do, but we’re ready to go,” she said. “I think that excitement will build and build until our first match on June 12.”
She said her team is looking to improve crowd management and signage within the next month after completing a test run of BMO Field during this weekend’s Toronto FC and Inter Miami game.
The TTC is preparing for the influx of visitors for the FIFA World Cup, with plans to deploy at least 600 ambassadors to help fans get around Toronto. CBC’s Lane Harrison breaks down what we know about ‘Team TTC.’
Metrolinx increases GO Transit, UP Express for FIFA
Bollenbach also encouraged Torontonians to either use transit, walk or bike as much as possible when attending World Cup events this summer.
“It’s a transit-first approach,” she said. “It’s important that you plan ahead, in particular for match days on road closures and restrictions that will be around the venue areas.”
Special GO Transit and UP Express service will be available for FIFA fans during the World Cup, said a Metrolinx news release Tuesday.
“Across the network this will mean nearly 3,000 weekly GO trips available during the tournament,” the statement read. The organization said there will be enhanced service on the lines from June 10 to July 5, including:
- GO train service on Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West routes will be increased to 15-minute service throughout the day.
- Up to six trains per hour between Exhibition Go and Union station along the Lakeshore West line before and after Toronto game times.
- Increased GO bus service to Niagara Falls with extra weekday and weekend trips to support commuters.
More late night service will also be available to help commuters get home after evening games and events:
- Lakeshore West trains will leave Union Station as late as 12:47 a.m.
- Last eastbound train will leave Exhibition GO at 12:36 a.m. and the last westbound train will depart at 12:55 a.m.
- Lakeshore East trains will leave Union Station around 12:50 a.m.
- UP Express trains will depart from Union Station as late as 1:45 a.m.
Metrolinx said regular service will resume on July 6.
