Viral Croatia FIFA World Cup fan says she's coming to Toronto

One of the FIFA World Cup's most recognizable fans is coming to Toronto this week.

Ivana Knoll, the Croatian influencer and model who went viral during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, says she'll be in the city on Tuesday to cheer on Croatia as it takes on Panama.

And win or lose, Knoll's night won't end at Toronto Stadium.

After the game, Knoll, who also DJs under the alias "Knolldoll," will perform a set and host a meet-and-greet at the popular rooftop club Lavelle on King Street W.

Knoll was born in Germany and moved to Zagreb, Croatia, as a child. She gained global notoriety during the previous FIFA World Cup in Qatar, donning a red-and-white checkered Croatia corset on the international TV broadcast. 

 

 

 

 

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She attended every Croatia match during the country's run to a third-place finish in 2022, where the team lost to eventual champions Argentina in the semifinals.

She's since grown her social media presence to three million followers on Instagram.

The 33-year-old has been following the Croatian national team throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a stop in Dallas for Croatia's opening match against England.

She was also the headliner at Los Angeles's FIFA Fan Festival on June 13 before heading to Texas.

Croatia's Ivana Knoll went viral at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. (Yukihito Taguchi/Imagn Images)

Knoll won't be the only notable Croatian celebrity in town for the big game.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is currently visiting Canada for the first time and plans to attend Tuesday's match as well.

Plenković met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday, where the two exchanged jerseys and discussed trade. The Croatian leader also said he hopes to visit Croatian communities in both Toronto and Hamilton during his trip.

Croatia lost its opening game of the tournament to England 4-2, and will need a win over Panama on Tuesday night to keep its World Cup hopes alive. If Croatia wins, at least fans already know where the after-party will be.