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FIFA World Cup 2026 branding is displayed on City Hall during a FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour event at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on Monday, May 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
By The Canadian Press

World Cup watch party in Toronto ended Tuesday after firecracker set off: officials

Jun 17, 2026 | 1:38 PM

TORONTO — The City of Toronto says a World Cup watch party downtown was cancelled Tuesday night after a firecracker was set off, just days after a separate FIFA fan event was cut short due to weather.

The city confirmed Wednesday that on-site staff at Nathan Phillips Square ended a viewing party Tuesday for the Argentina-Algeria match out of concern for public safety after a firecracker was sparked.

Toronto police put out a notice Wednesday morning advising the public that fireworks are prohibited at FIFA celebrations downtown.

Tuesday’s cancellation came after the city’s flagship FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York was evacuated last Thursday, the first day of the World Cup, due to threat of lightning. The start of the fan festival was also postponed on Sunday due to weather.

Sharon Bollenbach, Toronto’s executive director for the FIFA World Cup, says the cancellations are “disappointing for fans” but added officials prioritize the public’s safety when shutting down events.

She says cancelling the fan festival on its first day was a “difficult choice” made after staff assessed the forecast and time it would take to get the site back up and running that night.

The city has said the fan festival is “rain or shine” but the risk of lightning can result in its cancellation, with no refunds available. While general admission tickets are free, VIP seating packages range in price from $100 to $300.

“Very unfortunate, but again, for safety reasons, we’re always thinking of the safety of the folks who are attending our events and the public first,” Bollenbach said at a press conference Wednesday.

Bollenbach added the city is “reviewing operations” after each match and fan festival and is already making adjustments. Those include increased ticket scanning and security screening capacity to address wait times and improved signage throughout the site, she said.

She said the FIFA Fan Festival has seen nearly 65,000 people in its first four days.

“The energy continues to grow, and it’s really inspiring to see our city come to life for this FIFA World Cup,” she said.

Bollenbach added that fans planning to attend the event are encouraged to bring rain ponchos, but officials “may rethink” their ban on umbrellas with rain in the upcoming forecast.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for parts of southern Ontario on Wednesday, including the Greater Toronto Area, as Toronto hosts its second World Cup match. The weather agency said there was a severe risk of thunderstorms into Thursday morning, with up to 40 millimetres of rainfall.

Both the FIFA Fan Festival and Nathan Phillips Square were set to host match broadcasts, among other events, Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2026.

Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press