Toronto hosts six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches between 12 June and 2 July at BMO Field, and for most visiting fans the journey starts at Pearson Airport (YYZ). The fastest route from the airport to the stadium is simple: UP Express train from Terminal 1 to Union Station (25 minutes, $12.35, or $9.25 with a contactless card tap), then one GO train stop on the Lakeshore West line to Exhibition GO, which is a three to five minute walk from the stadium gates. For the tournament window GO trains run every 15 minutes, so the whole airport-to-stadium trip is realistic in about an hour.
This guide covers the match dates, every transport option with current fares, and the practical airport details fans ask about most.
Toronto match days at a glance
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| 12 June, 15:00 | Canada vs UEFA playoff winner (the host opener) |
| 17 June, 19:00 | Ghana vs Panama |
| 20 June, 16:00 | Germany vs Ivory Coast |
| 23 June, 19:00 | Panama vs Croatia |
| 26 June, 15:00 | Senegal vs FIFA playoff winner |
| 2 July | Round of 32 |
BMO Field sits at Exhibition Place on the lakefront, about 27 km from Pearson. Kick-off times can shift; check your ticket.
From Pearson to the stadium, option by option
Train (recommended on match days). UP Express leaves Terminal 1 every 15 minutes from early morning until past midnight: 25 minutes to Union Station, $12.35 adult one way, $9.25 if you just tap a credit or debit card. At Union, change to any Lakeshore West GO train heading west; Exhibition is the first stop, a 4 minute ride on the same tap or a standard GO fare. During the tournament (10 June to 5 July) GO runs every 15 minutes on this line, and the station exits directly at Exhibition Place.
Streetcar. From Union Station the 509 Harbourfront streetcar reaches Exhibition Loop on a regular TTC fare of $3.30 by PRESTO or contactless ($3.35 cash). Slower than GO but more frequent late at night.
Taxi or ride-hail straight from the airport. Pearson taxis use fixed zone fares: about $62 to downtown, and a similar figure to Exhibition Place; ride-hail typically runs $50 to $85 and surges around kick-off and full-time. With four people sharing, the car beats the train on price; solo, the train wins. On match days add a generous buffer, because the Gardiner Expressway around Exhibition Place clogs hours before kick-off.
Driving yourself is the weak option. Stadium parking is scarce on World Cup days, and road closures are expected around Exhibition Place. If you rent a car for the wider trip, park it at the hotel on match day and take the train.
Practical airport notes for fans
Allow 60 to 90 minutes from gate to stadium district, more if you land at Terminal 3 (the UP Express station is at Terminal 1; the free Link Train connects the terminals in a few minutes).
Dropping bags before the match: if your hotel check-in is later or you fly out the same night, Pearson has staffed luggage storage in both terminals (Terminal 1 Arrivals 05:00 to 23:00, Terminal 3 Departures 05:00 to 22:00). Details and prices are in our luggage storage guide.
Fares in this guide are the verified June 2026 rates from the operators (Metrolinx, TTC, GTAA zone tariff). Our airport-to-downtown comparison has a small calculator if your hotel is elsewhere in the city, and the taxi guide explains how the zone flat rates work.
Flying onward to other host cities: Toronto shares the tournament with Vancouver plus the US and Mexican venues. For US-bound connections from Pearson, remember that US preclearance happens at Pearson itself, so arrive at the airport with extra margin on match weekends.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I leave the airport for a 15:00 kick-off?
Is there a direct bus from Pearson to BMO Field?
Can I store luggage at the stadium?
What if my match ends after midnight?
Sources
Match schedule and fares verified in June 2026 against the stadium, Metrolinx and City of Toronto pages. Kick-off times and transit plans can change during the tournament; recheck on match day. This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with FIFA, the stadium or the airport. Photo: Wladyslaw, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
