World Cup Games for Brampton

Ok, so we know Brampton won’t be hosting any 2026 World Cup games, but, with 6 games being hosted in Toronto at BMO Field, the Brampton soccer community will have access to 6 matches. Expensive, offensively expensive access, but access none-the-less.

World Cup Games for Brampton

Group Stage

Friday, June 12th, 2026 – Canada vs. UEFA Playoff A winner

Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 – Ghana vs. Panama

Saturday, June 20th, 2026 – Germany vs. Cote d’Ivoire

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026 – Croatia vs. Panama

Friday, June 26th, 2026 – Senegal vs. FIFA Playoff 2 winner

Round of 32

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2026 – Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up

GTA’s Diaspora Communities

Anyone that’s played football in Brampton or anywhere in the GTA already understands how significant Canada’s multiculturalism is to our soccer community. This is a region of the world that is ideal for World Cup audiences because for every nation participating, there’s sure to be a huge swath of their national diaspora present.

Confirmed Diaspora Communities

Croatia
The Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) has the largest concentration of Croatian Canadians, with around 37,460 individuals, making it a significant hub for the Croatian diaspora in Canada. If we include Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown and Hamilton, these numbers quickly approach 50 thousand Croatian Canadians that will most likely be descending on BMO field on June 23rd, 2026.

Cote d’Ivoire
The population of individuals from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is estimated to be approximately 3,000 people.

Germany
According to the 2021 Census data, there are 216,880 people with German ancestry in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which closely aligns with the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). If we include some of the slightly further outlying regions these numbers start to get massive and a more earnest estimate would be in excess of 300,000 individuals of German diaspora living within driving distance of BMO field.

Ghana
The Ghanaian population in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is substantial, estimated by community groups around 2020 to be about 50,000 people, concentrated in Toronto and surrounding areas, forming an active cultural community with strong youth presence. Brampton Adult Soccer has been host to several predominantly Ghanaian teams over our 25+ year history. We look forward to seeing Black Stars fans celebrating their team at BMO Field.

Panama
Unfortunately, Census data doesn’t provide any clear insight into the GTA’s Panamanian diaspora. Based on the 2022 World Cup qualifying however, there is a decent amount of Panamanians in the area that will be attending matches.

Senegal
While a specific number for the GTA is unavailable and Canada wide the estimate is approximately 5000, data from the 2016 Census indicated a concentration of people with Senegalese origin in the city of Toronto, particularly along the corridor of Islington Avenue and Highway 427, between Highway 401 and Rexdale Boulevard.

Potential Diaspora Communities

Bolivia
There isn’t any reliable data available on Canada’s Latin American disaspora from Bolivia.

Bosnia & Hercegovina
The Bosnian community in the GTA has concentrations in certain areas, with notable populations in the Etobicoke district and Mississauga with an approximated total of about 7000. Including outlying regions would bring the total to anywhere between 8000-10,000.

Iraq
According to the 2021 Canadian Census data, there are 23,330 people of Iraqi ethnic origin in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which encompasses the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Italy
This is the big one, with census data reporting 468,970 residents of Italian ethnic origin, in the GTA, a more accurate number if we start pulling in residents from all the different regions within driving distance is easily closer to 750,000. BMO will see a lot of blue if Italy qualify, which could be bad news for the Canadian team.

Northern Ireland
Surprisingly, there are only approximately 3000 self-identifying Northern Irish diaspora individuals in the GTA, however, we can’t discount that some of the members of other British “home nations” like England and Wales, may well show up to support Northern Ireland.

Suriname
While there is no census data for Suriname specifically, Indo-Guyanese (many of whom share cultural and ancestral ties to the broader Dutch-speaking region including Suriname), is substantial in the GTA: there were approximately 70,000.

Wales
According to Census data there are 47,075 people of Welsh ethnic origin living in the GTA so qualification and a match in Toronto against Canada could result in an extremely vibrant atmosphere.