Toronto announced the cancellation of public viewing parties at Nathan Phillips Square for Thursday’s World Cup matches, citing extreme heat and the need to allocate safety resources.
Environment Canada predicts a high of 35 °C on Thursday, easing to around 31 °C by 7 p.m. when Portugal faces Croatia at Toronto Stadium. The city expects fan gatherings to continue at Fan Fest and other venues.
Officials have not specified the exact safety concerns driving the decision. The move follows a recent incident where Fan Fest at Fort York reached capacity and turned away attendees.
Thursday’s schedule also includes Spain versus Austria in Los Angeles and Switzerland versus Algeria in Vancouver, but Toronto’s focus remains on local event management.
Security staffing has been strained after a private contractor failed to provide sufficient guards during the tournament’s opening weekend, forcing municipal police to cover overtime.
The city responded by engaging additional security firms to address the shortfall and maintain public safety at the events.
A separate municipal project, the pedestrianization of Church Street near Wellesley, underscores broader budgeting challenges, with total costs approaching $500,000 and patrol expenses estimated at $300,000, while police operations are projected at roughly $50,000 during peak periods.
