BMO Field sits at Exhibition Place along Toronto’s lakeshore, built as Canada’s first soccer-specific stadium ahead of the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Toronto FC played the venue’s inaugural match on April 28, 2007, becoming the first Major League Soccer club based outside the United States, and the tight, rectangular bowl quickly earned a reputation as one of MLS’s loudest atmospheres.
What began as a roughly 21,000-seat soccer bowl has been rebuilt in stages since. A 2010 upgrade and a larger 2014-2016 expansion added an upper east deck, partial roof coverage, and a lengthened field to accommodate Canadian football, bringing the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in as tenants in 2016. The stadium was further upgraded for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which brought its temporary capacity above 45,000 for six tournament matches.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Toronto FC (MLS), Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
- Location: Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Opened: April 2007
- Capacity: About 30,000 for soccer; about 26,500 for CFL football
- 2026 World Cup Capacity: Temporarily expanded to 45,736
- Notable Fact: Canada’s first soccer-specific stadium, built for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
From Soccer-Specific Bowl to Multi-Purpose Venue
BMO Field was designed from the outset as a rectangular, soccer-first venue, a rarity in a North American sports landscape dominated by shared football-baseball stadiums. That original footprint made for excellent sightlines but limited capacity and no accommodation for Canadian football’s wider field. The 2014-2016 renovation solved that by adding a second-deck expansion in the east end and lengthening the pitch, which let the Toronto Argonauts relocate there from the Rogers Centre in 2016.
The stadium has also hosted marquee soccer and football events, including the final of the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, back-to-back MLS Cup appearances by Toronto FC in 2016 and 2017 (winning the title in 2017), and the 104th Grey Cup in 2016.
A World Cup Host on the Lakeshore
BMO Field’s role expanded again as one of the venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosting six matches after a temporary capacity boost to 45,736 funded by a mix of city and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment investment. The upgrades built on decades of incremental growth, turning a modest soccer-only bowl into one of Canada’s most versatile sports venues.
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BMO Field FAQs
What teams play at BMO Field?
BMO Field is the home of Toronto FC (MLS) and the Toronto Argonauts (CFL), and it also regularly hosts the Canadian men’s national soccer team.
How many people does BMO Field hold?
In its standard configuration, BMO Field seats about 30,000 for soccer and about 26,500 for CFL football; it was temporarily expanded to 45,736 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
When did BMO Field open?
BMO Field opened in 2007, with Toronto FC playing its first match there on April 28, 2007.
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Photo: Chris Woodrich / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.