More tickets for Toronto’s World Cup fan festival to be released after quick sellout

TORONTO — Don’t be disappointed if you couldn’t secure a free ticket for the World Cup fan festival in Toronto.

The City of Toronto says it will release more free general admission tickets next week after the first wave sold out hours after becoming available Wednesday morning.

Sharon Bollenbach, the city’s executive director of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto secretariat, says fans snapped up the first allotment of 220,000 free tickets within four hours of the online portal opening.

Bollenbach says premium tickets, listed for between $100 and $300 before tax and fees, remain available for purchase.

The fan festival is set to be held at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway park between June 11 and July 19, timed to coincide with match days.

The city says fans with general admission tickets will not be allowed to re-enter the festival grounds if they leave, while those with premium tickets will be “guaranteed entry and enhanced experiences.”

Toronto reversed its controversial plan to charge $10 for general admission after strong public criticism. The city had initially advertised the festival as a free event.

Bollenbach said the high demand shows the city’s enthusiasm and excitement to welcome the world for the tournament.

“We expect FIFA Fan Festival Toronto to remain a popular event throughout the tournament,” she said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

“To manage demand and support equitable access, the city is strategically releasing tickets in waves, with the next release scheduled for Friday, May 15, at 10 a.m. EST.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2026.

Sharif Hassan, The Canadian Press