Songs, flags and Ronaldo: I saw first-hand how the FIFA World Cup lit up Toronto’s streets - Toronto Star

I covered 11 fan marches and Ronaldo's last international goal for Portugal. Toronto's World Cup was magic.

Iraqi fans marching towards Toronto Stadium for their World Cup match, June 26, 2026. 

Editor’s note: Each year, the Star sports department contributes to the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund via Proudfoot Corner. The drive allows children from low income families across the GTA to enjoy a holiday gift box. Proudfoot Corner is our tradition of recognizing donors. As we do, we’ll take a behind-the-scenes look at stories we worked on this year.

I knew how massive the FIFA World Cup was, but nothing could have prepared me for the scenes that unfolded on the streets of Toronto over the summer.

The city had prepared for the world’s biggest sporting event for almost eight years, and fans were giddy with excitement to see global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric play in Toronto.

Packed stadiums, fans waving flags and chanting in unison — no other sport unites people like soccer.

I was lucky enough to report on the “fan marches” taking place hours before match day, with thousands of supporters gathering to display their national pride. I followed 11 different countries and was exposed to unique cultures from around the world.

I still have songs sung by Ghanaian fans stuck in my head (and even downloaded them on Spotify) along with the dances that went with them. One day, German fans would march on Lake Shore Boulevard; another day, almost 10,000 Iraqi fans took over Stanley Park and played traditional music on their way to Toronto Stadium.

It didn’t matter that Iraq had already been eliminated before its final group stage match against Senegal; the diaspora showed up. Nobody wanted to miss the fun.

“It’s been 40 years since Iraq last made it (to the World Cup), so for many of us we have never seen Iraq on the world stage,” Suha Abdullah, one of the lead organizers of the Iraqi supporters, said before her team lost 5-0.

“We really don’t care how they’re going to do with Senegal, whether it’s a win or a loss, we’re all coming to celebrate, and our unity is the win.”

The craziest experience was covering the Ronaldo fever that hit the city. I haven’t seen an athlete so beloved by his fans with such a profound effect on so many people’s lives. Some criss-crossed the city, following him from his downtown Toronto hotel to the practice field in Etobicoke. Hundreds of fans camped outside the Delta Hotel by Marriott Toronto to get a glimpse of him. They waited for hours just to see him get on the team bus after practice at Centennial Park.

One restaurant felt the “Ronaldo effect” even though he didn’t eat there. Via Norte’s phone didn’t stop ringing after Ronaldo’s sister posted that she dined at the College Street restaurant. 

It cost an arm and a leg to get a seat to the knockout World Cup match between Portugal and Modric’s Croatia — people were listing tickets on StubHub for between $2,656 and $6,043.

Ronaldo scored his first career World Cup knockout stage goal, becoming the oldest player to do so at 41 years old, and it sent Toronto Stadium into a frenzy as he helped Portugal advance to the round of 16. It also turned out to be his final international goal. The thousands of fans who gathered outside his Toronto hotel wouldn’t leave that night until he came out on to the balcony to wave goodbye.

BTS OF RONALDO AND THE FANS OUTSIDE THE TORONTO HOTEL 🔥🇵🇹📹 (via YT/Federação Portuguesa de Futebol) #FIFAWorldCup https://t.co/4zWCoZVXru

As a journalist, you’re taught to be unbiased and professional while reporting, but many of my colleagues in press row couldn’t hide their excitement. We had to wait a long time after the match for Ronaldo to walk through the mixed zone and answer questions. 

I questioned whether I should stay much longer, as my phone’s battery was dying. With Ronaldo’s recent retirement announcement from international soccer, I’m glad I stuck it out. After all, I can say I was there for his last triumphant World Cup moment.

We kick off Proudfoot Corner this week with $1,000 from Robyn Matsumoto … Jessica Stock gives $105 in memory of Peter Smeaton … Another $105 comes from James Vlahos in memory of Nick Vlahos, “my dad and a Leafs fan” … John Arrabito gives $50 in memory of Angelo Arrabito … Diane and David Baker donate $70 …$100 comes from Sharon Alderdice in memory of Roy Alderdice … John Spence donates $105 in memory of Carol Spence … We get $300 from Roy Switzer … Roy and Diane Chapman give $105 in memory of Owen Chapma … And we end this week with another $1,000 donation, this one from Brian Wright in memory of John and Gordon … Many thanks to all for your generosity!

Libaan Osman is a Toronto-based general assignment reporter for the Star's city team. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca.