How Toronto could host England-Portugal match at FIFA World Cup

We are less than 45 days away from the FIFA World Cup kicking off on Toronto soil.

Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) is scheduled to host five group-stage matches, beginning with Canada's opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12. Our city will also host a round of 32 game in the knockout round that won’t be determined until the group stage is complete.

FIFA World Cup match schedule in Toronto:
June 12: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 17: Ghana vs. Panama
June 20: Germany vs. Côte d’Ivoire
June 23: Panama vs. Croatia
June 26: Senegal vs. Iraq
July 2: Group K runner-up vs. Group L runner-up

As things stand, Germany (FIFA rank: 10) is the highest-ranked team scheduled to play in Toronto during the group stage. But there's a bigger match that could come later in the knockout round — a potential marquee clash between England and Portugal.

The runner-up of Groups K and L will meet in Toronto on July 2 in the round of 32. (FIFA).

Torontonians could see Harry Kane and England at Toronto Stadium if they finish second in Group L, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal could also land in the same situation if they finish second in Group K.

England’s path to winning Group L won’t be easy. They’ll face 11th-ranked Croatia, Panama (33rd), and Ghana (74th), making a second-place finish a realistic possibility rather than a surprise.

Portugal’s group is also competitive, featuring 13th-ranked Colombia, along with tournament debutants DR Congo (46th) and Uzbekistan (50th).

Toronto will host a knockout round game on July 2. (Lucas Medeiros/Offside)

The outcome of the Portugal vs. Colombia on June 27 in Miami will likely determine what team will be heading to Toronto for the knockout round, but DR Congo and Uzbekistan have nothing to lose and could complicate things for both sides.

If you told someone in Toronto's Little Portugal neighbourhood a decade ago that Ronaldo would be playing a FIFA World Cup at BMO Field, it would have been a fever dream. Now, it's a little bit of group-stage chaos away from becoming a real possibility.

If both England and Portugal both finish second in their respective groups, Toronto could host one of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the smallest stadium among the 16 host venues. Imagine that.