For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, matches are being played in Canada, with Toronto and Vancouver hosting a significant share of the tournament’s 104 games. The host nation’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto drew thousands of fans who marched through city streets in a massive “March to the Match” en route to BMO Field. A second opening ceremony — featuring Michael Bublé among other performers — preceded the Group B fixture.
But it wasn’t all celebration. Canada denied entry to Ghanaian international Thomas Partey, who faces rape accusations, barring him from participating in the tournament on Canadian soil. The decision, reported by El País, underscored the intersection of sport and law that has shadowed this expanded 48-team World Cup.
Meanwhile, Der Spiegel offered a cultural critique of the tournament’s opening ceremonies, calling them “banal” spectacles that fizzled despite star-studded lineups — a symptom, the outlet argued, of the bloated format FIFA has adopted. Spain’s squad, preparing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, had all 26 players available for the first time after Víctor Muñoz rejoined the group.
