People in Toronto are complaining about BMO Field's huge FIFA expansion
Toronto's BMO Field is undergoing a massive expansion in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026, injecting $146 million into the facility and adding 17,756 seats for a new total seating capacity of 45,736.
It's a huge change for the almost 20-year-old facility, but the temporary nature of the new bleachers under construction at the south end of the venue has some fans feeling uneasy.
Photos of the stadium shared by local photographer Kotsy have sparked debate about the stadium experience awaiting fans in the temporary bleachers.
In a re-shared tweet including the stadium photo, an X user writes, "Just saw a photo of BMO's temporary seating. Respectfully, you couldn't pay me to climb, stand or sit on that."
The post has sparked commentary on a range of topics, from underscoring the safety of these temporary structures to piling on and trolling the awkward look of the expanded seating area.
Same vibe as this setup for the 2018 World Cup. https://t.co/FNTIMuaQ8o pic.twitter.com/iARRagWacU
— Jack (@architecturejks) March 5, 2026
While others had similar feelings about the sturdiness of the new build, many chimed in with examples of similar constructions that have endured decades of temporary use with no issues.
That's nothing.
— BlazeMeister1978 (@BlazeMeister78) March 5, 2026
The so-called "temporary" stand at Gillingham FC's Priestfield Stadium has been in use for nearly 25 years... 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/7niwy5BX0e
BMO Field had previously been built out with temporary bleachers during the 2016 NHL Centennial Classic, among other instances, while the 2025-opened Rogers Stadium, of similar construction, had no structural issues during its inaugural concert season.
That’s the standard set up. Been done several times since the stadium was built
— ChuckM (@chuckm1356343) March 5, 2026
Safety concerns aside, many users pointed out the awkwardness of the bleachers relative to the stadium, including issues with sightlines.
One user even compared the awkward-looking setup to a bogus rendering of a purported skyscraper soccer stadium in Saudi Arabia that went viral before ultimately being debunked.
— No Context CanMNT ⚽️ 🇨🇦 (@NoContextCanMNT) March 5, 2026
BMO Field will temporarily take on the name 'Toronto Stadium' during the six FIFA World Cup matches that will be hosted at the venue in June and July.
Fareen Karim
