Germany takes on Ivory Coast at Toronto Stadium: Less than 30 minutes to kick off. Live updates here

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Germany fans take over streets of Toronto ahead of World Cup game

Thousands of Germany fans march in the streets of Toronto

Germany fans celebrate ahead of match with Ivory Coast

GO transit boosting service for FIFA World Cup match in Toronto

Toronto will host its third FIFA World Cup game Saturday afternoon when Germany takes on Ivory Coast.

The ninth-ranked Germany is playing against 30th-ranked Ivory Coast for their second matches in the 2026 tournament.

Both countries won their first games against their Group E competitors. Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 and Germany beat Curaçao 7-1.

CTV News Toronto will have live updates leading up to, and following kickoff at 4 p.m.

3:49 p.m.

Less than 30 minutes to kickoff at Toronto Stadium and the venue is getting more packed by the minute.

3:32 p.m. Super fan has attended every World Cup since 1986

For Chris Verhuis, following the World Cup has become a lifelong tradition.

Verhuis travelled from San Francisco to Toronto and says he has attended every World Cup tournament dating back to 1986.

This year, he plans to follow Germany throughout the entire tournament as they chase another deep run on the world stage.

His connection to the sport goes beyond being a fan. Verhuis said he was a goalkeeper during his college years, giving him an even deeper appreciation for the game.

After today’s match against Ivory Coast, his Toronto trip will come to an end, with plans to fly out tomorrow morning as he continues following the tournament.

- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist

2:52 p.m. Expensive eats at Toronto Stadium

Here’s another look at food prices inside Toronto Stadium:

Today’s dish, jerk chicken nachos, is selling for $25.99.

At previous games, CTV News Toronto’s Jermaine Wilson found a hotdog combo (chips and drink) for $32.49 and chicken tenders with fries (no drink) for $28.53.

- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist

2:48 p.m. Fan scored a last-minute ticket

Luke Fang, who is originally from China and now living in Toronto for 12 years, drove to today’s match and parked near Union Station.

He says he bought his ticket last night and is hopeful for a Germany win.

- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist

2:19 p.m. Germany fan says energy in city during World Cup ‘unlike anything’ he’s ever seen

For Haroon Amadi, attending the World Cup in Toronto was an opportunity he simply couldn’t pass up.

Amadi, who is orginally from Toronto, came to today’s match with his son and said they paid approximately $840 each for their tickets to see Germany take on Ivory Coast.

While the price was steep, he described the tournament as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both Toronto and local soccer fans.

He told CTV News that there’s no guarantee the city will ever host another World Cup, making the decision an easy one.

Amadi also praised the atmosphere that has taken over Toronto in recent days, saying the energy throughout the city is unlike anything he has ever experienced in his life.

“What a great event. The whole World Cup, the scene, just the energy in the city, I haven’t seen it since before COVID,” he said from inside Toronto Stadium.

“And I think it’s a wake-up call for this city and everybody is alive again so that’s good. Let’s go.”

- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist

2:15 p.m. Fans arriving at Toronto Stadium

Live from inside Toronto Stadium a few hours before Germany takes on Ivory Coast. Fans are beginning to arrive, but for now it’s the calm before the storm.

- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist

2:00 p.m. Fan march ends

Toronto Police confirm the roads that have closed for the fan march from Amsterdam Brewhouse to Toronto Stadium have since reopened.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

1:25 p.m. - Streetcar service halted along Queens Quay

The Toronto Transit Commission advises fans currently heading to Toronto Stadium or the FIFA Fan Fest that the ongoing march has temporarily halted streetcar service along Queens Quay.

The transit network advises taking the GO to Exhibition from Union Station or the 504 streetcar from St. Andrew or King subway stations at this time.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

1:15 p.m. - About 5K fans are marching

In a post on social media, Toronto Police say there are roughly 5,000 fans participating in the march to Toronto Stadium.

“Due to large crowd size and fan march, expect delays at Lakeshore Blvd and Bathurst Street,” officials wrote on X.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

1 p.m. - March-turned-street party underway

The march has come to a temporary standstill, turning a stretch of roadway into a singalong. Germany supporters are sitting on the street, chanting, with the crowd growing bigger.

CTV News Toronto’s Jermaine Wilsoncalls the march a “stop-and-go celebration,” as hordes of fans stop after moving a hundred metres to sing and shout their support for their national team.

- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist

12:50 p.m. - Toronto’s goldfish oracle predicts Saturday’s winners

A goldfish in downtown Toronto has been predicting the outcome of each and every World Cup match so far (and will be throughout the duration of this year’s tournament). As of Thursday morning, the cheekily-named Swimbappé had an 80 per cent success rate with his divinations.

For Saturday’s matches, the aquatic oracle predicts the eighth-ranked Netherlands will beat the 34th-ranked Sweden in the Group F matchup.

As for the outcome of the game hosted in Toronto, Swimbappé feels like Ivory Coast will take home the win.

Want to learn more about Toronto’s goldfish oracle? Head here to read about his origin story.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

12:36 p.m. - March from Amsterdam Brewhouse begins

The march filled with hundreds of Germany supports is now underway. Hundreds of fans are expected to chant and sing throughout Toronto’s streets as they make their way toward Toronto Stadium.

- Jermaine Wilson, CTV News Toronto journalist

12:15 p.m. Germany fans gathered outside team’s hotel

Hordes of Team Germany fans waited outside of the hotel where the national team is staying earlier on Saturday, which appears to be at Le Germain Hotel on Bremner Boulevard.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

11:55 a.m. Match appears to be completely sold out

Today’s Germany-Ivory Coast match at Toronto Stadium appears to be completely sold out.

Just before noon, there were no tickets available for the match through FIFA’s official ticketing platform and only a single $970 ticket available through FIFA’s resale platform.

A small number of tickets do remain available for the match through third-party resale sites. Prices on StubHub range from $1,043 to $6,732 per seat while tickets via SeatGeek range between $1,419 to $6,903.

Some tickets on those sites appear to be for sale for more than face-value, going against recent provincial legislation capping resale prices.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

11 a.m. Road closures now in effect

The city has shut down much of the area surrounding Toronto Stadium at Exhibition Place and the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York.

Lake Shore Boulevard West from Bathurst Street to British Columbia Road is now closed. This closure takes effect on all of Toronto’s game days, starting five hours before kickoff and ending three hours after the final whistle. Roads are expected to reopen at 9 p.m.

Manitoba Drive and most of Strachan Avenue are also closed. Traffic between Dufferin Street and Strachan, north of the Gardiner Expressway, is limited to local traffic only.

Toronto police have said that additional road closures are taking effect as a fan march from Amsterdam Brewhouse gets underway this afternoon.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

10:25 a.m. – Former NFL player helps German soccer superfan make it to Toronto

Former Houston Texans player J.J. Watt and American Airlines have been credited in helping Freddy make it in time for Germany’s match at Toronto Stadium against Ivory Coast. Freddy is a beloved German soccer fan documenting his road trip across the U.S. during the World Cup.

On Friday, Freddy shared concerns that they would miss Saturday’s game after their flight was rebooked due to the weather.

“They rebooked us on a flight tomorrow evening. We’re gonna miss the Germany match,” the post reads

Thousands of people commented on the post, offering alternate routes to get Freddy to Toronto in time. Later on Friday, Freddy announced they were on the way to Buffalo.

Head here for more details on the story.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

9:05 a.m. – Saturday’s weather forecast

It will likely be a lot dryer at Toronto Stadium compared to the last World Cup match that was hosted in the city.

On Wednesday night it poured during the Ghana and Panama game, but Environment Canada forecasts just a 30 per cent chance of rain in Toronto Saturday afternoon, starting at around 2 p.m.

The national weather agency says Toronto can expect a mix of sun and cloud this afternoon, and a high of 24 C.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist

9 a.m. – Watch parties across the GTA

Several watch parties are scheduled to take place in the Greater Toronto Area for Saturday’s match.

There are a number of options for German fans to root for their team, including Amsterdam Brewhouse at 245 Queens Quay W. and The Pint Public House at 277 Front St. W. in downtown Toronto.

Club Lorely Oshawa is hosting supporters at its German-Canadian cultural club on Dean Avenue, while fans in Mississauga can head over to Hansa Haus on Hurontario Street.

Meanwhile Ivory Coast fans can either head to Instant du Palais on Mount Pleasant Road or Le Plato on Danforth Avenue to cheer on for their team.

Fans of both teams can also catch the action at FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York and the Bentway. There is also a live broadcast right at Nathan Phillips Square.

- Alex Arsenych, CTV News Toronto journalist