Thousands of fans dressed in red flooded the streets of Toronto and Vancouver this month, drumming, chanting, and trailing plumes of colored smoke behind them. The occasion: Canada is hosting World Cup matches on home soil, and the Voyageurs, the country’s official soccer supporters group, are making sure the atmosphere matches the moment.
Canada is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, and the Voyageurs have turned what could have been passive spectatorship into something closer to a national movement.
Red waves and replica jerseys
The Toronto march coincided with Canada’s group stage opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, 2026. Vancouver’s events are timed around the June 25 fixture against Switzerland, with fans expected to pack the streets leading to BC Place stadium.
The Voyageurs are distributing 3,000 replica jerseys bearing the No. 8 of midfielder Ismaël Koné, who suffered a broken leg during Canada’s match against Qatar on June 19. Coach Jesse Marsch reportedly said he heard the bone snap from the sideline during the 51st minute.
