Toronto cancels FIFA Fan Festival hours before semifinal game

The best place to watch Wednesday's England-Argentina FIFA World Cup semifinal might be indoors.

Just a few hours before kickoff, the City of Toronto cancelled the official FIFA Fan Festival outdoor watch party at Fort York Historic Site due to an orange air quality warning issued by Environment Canada.

"Due to the orange air quality warning in Toronto, today's FIFA Fan Festival has been cancelled," the city wrote on social media.

"The health and safety of attendees, staff, volunteers, and emergency personnel remains our top priority."

Due to the orange air quality warning in Toronto, today’s FIFA Fan Festival has been cancelled.

The health and safety of attendees, staff, volunteers, and emergency personnel remains our top priority.

Premium ticket holders will be contacted directly regarding refunds. pic.twitter.com/NIrbd9Wqca

— FIFA World Cup 26 Toronto (@FWC26Toronto) July 15, 2026

The city said fans who purchased premium tickets would be contacted directly regarding refunds.

Toronto ranked as the city with the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday morning as wildfire smoke from northern Ontario blanketed the GTA.

The cancellation comes after a stretch of extreme heat across Ontario, with temperatures reaching 37 C on Tuesday afternoon.

The city did not cancel the event during Tuesday's heat, but encouraged attendees to bring water, stay hydrated, and seek shaded areas at the venue.

With Wednesday's cancellation, only two days remain for the FIFA Fan Festival in Toronto: July 18 for the third-place match and July 19 for the World Cup final between Spain and either England or Argentina.