Toronto will host its third FIFA World Cup game Saturday afternoon when Germany takes on Ivory Coast.
The ninth-ranked Germany is playing against 30th-ranked Ivory Coast for their second matches in the 2026 tournament.
Both countries won their first games against their Group E competitors. Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 and Germany beat Curaçao 7-1.
CTV News Toronto will have live updates leading up to, and following kickoff at 4 p.m.
2:00 p.m. Fan march ends
Toronto Police confirm the roads that have closed for the fan march from Amsterdam Brewhouse to Toronto Stadium have since reopened.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
1:25 p.m. - Streetcar service halted along Queens Quay
The Toronto Transit Commission advises fans currently heading to Toronto Stadium or the FIFA Fan Fest that the ongoing march has temporarily halted streetcar service along Queens Quay.
The transit network advises taking the GO to Exhibition from Union Station or the 504 streetcar from St. Andrew or King subway stations at this time.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
1:15 p.m. - About 5K fans are marching
In a post on social media, Toronto Police say there are roughly 5,000 fans participating in the march to Toronto Stadium.
“Due to large crowd size and fan march, expect delays at Lakeshore Blvd and Bathurst Street,” officials wrote on X.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
1 p.m. - March turned street party
The march has come to a temporary standstill, turning a stretch of roadway into a singalong. Germany supporters are sitting on the street, chanting, with the crowd growing bigger.
CTV News Toronto’s Jermaine Wilsoncalls the march a “stop-and-go celebration,” as hordes of fans stop after moving a hundred metres to sing and shout their support for their national team.
- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist
12:50 p.m. - Toronto’s goldfish oracle predicts Saturday’s winners
A goldfish in downtown Toronto has been predicting the outcome of each and every World Cup match so far (and will be throughout the duration of this year’s tournament). As of Thursday morning, the cheekily-named Swimbappé had an 80 per cent success rate with his divinations.
For Saturday’s matches, the aquatic oracle predicts the eighth-ranked Netherlands will beat the 34th-ranked Sweden in the Group F matchup.
As for the outcome of the game hosted in Toronto, Swimbappé feels like Ivory Coast will take home the win.
Want to learn more about Toronto’s goldfish oracle? Head here to read about his origin story.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
12:36 p.m. - March from Amsterdam Brewhouse begins
The march filled with hundreds of Germany supports is now underway. Hundreds of fans are expected to chant and sing throughout Toronto’s streets as they make their way toward Toronto Stadium.
- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist
12:15 p.m. Germany fans gathered outside team’s hotel
Hordes of Team Germany fans waited outside of the hotel where the national team is staying earlier on Saturday, which appears to be at Le Germain Hotel on Bremner Boulevard.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
11:55 a.m. Match appears to be completely sold out
Today’s Germany-Ivory Coast match at Toronto Stadium appears to be completely sold out.
Just before noon, there were no tickets available for the match through FIFA’s official ticketing platform and only a single $970 ticket available through FIFA’s resale platform.
A small number of tickets do remain available for the match through third-party resale sites. Prices on StubHub range from $1,043 to $6,732 per seat while tickets via SeatGeek range between $1,419 to $6,903.
Some tickets on those sites appear to be for sale for more than face-value, going against recent provincial legislation capping resale prices.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
11 a.m. Road closures now in effect
The city has shut down much of the area surrounding Toronto Stadium at Exhibition Place and the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York.
Lake Shore Boulevard West from Bathurst Street to British Columbia Road is now closed. This closure takes effect on all of Toronto’s game days, starting five hours before kickoff and ending three hours after the final whistle. Roads are expected to reopen at 9 p.m.
Manitoba Drive and most of Strachan Avenue are also closed. Traffic between Dufferin Street and Strachan, north of the Gardiner Expressway, is limited to local traffic only.
Toronto police have said that additional road closures are taking effect as a fan march from Amsterdam Brewhouse gets underway this afternoon.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
10:25 a.m. – Former NFL player helps German soccer superfan make it to Toronto
Former Houston Texans player J.J. Watt and American Airlines have been credited in helping Freddy make it in time for Germany’s match at Toronto Stadium against Ivory Coast. Freddy is a beloved German soccer fan documenting his road trip across the U.S. during the World Cup.
On Friday, Freddy shared concerns that they would miss Saturday’s game after their flight was rebooked due to the weather.
“They rebooked us on a flight tomorrow evening. We’re gonna miss the Germany match,” the post reads
Thousands of people commented on the post, offering alternate routes to get Freddy to Toronto in time. Later on Friday, Freddy announced they were on the way to Buffalo.
Head here for more details on the story.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
9:05 a.m. – Saturday’s weather forecast
It will likely be a lot dryer at Toronto Stadium compared to the last World Cup match that was hosted in the city.
On Wednesday night it poured during the Ghana and Panama game, but Environment Canada forecasts just a 30 per cent chance of rain in Toronto Saturday afternoon, starting at around 2 p.m.
The national weather agency says Toronto can expect a mix of sun and cloud this afternoon, and a high of 24 C.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
9 a.m. – Watch parties across the GTA
Several watch parties are scheduled to take place in the Greater Toronto Area for Saturday’s match.
There are a number of options for German fans to root for their team, including Amsterdam Brewhouse at 245 Queens Quay W. and The Pint Public House at 277 Front St. W. in downtown Toronto.
Club Lorely Oshawa is hosting supporters at its German-Canadian cultural club on Dean Avenue, while fans in Mississauga can head over to Hansa Haus on Hurontario Street.
Meanwhile Ivory Coast fans can either head to Instant du Palais on Mount Pleasant Road or Le Plato on Danforth Avenue to cheer on for their team.
Fans of both teams can also catch the action at FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York and the Bentway. There is also a live broadcast right at Nathan Phillips Square.
- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist
