BMO Field at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, is Canada’s most prominent soccer-specific stadium and a venue whose transformation over two decades mirrors the rise of the sport in North America. Opened on April 28, 2007, with an initial capacity of 25,000, the stadium was built to host the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and serve as home to Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC — one of the league’s founding expansion franchises.

Construction was funded through a combination of federal ($27 million), provincial ($8 million), and municipal ($9.8 million) government contributions, complemented by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s $8 million share. The Bank of Montreal acquired naming rights for $27 million over ten years, establishing the stadium’s enduring identity. The project was completed on schedule and opened with Toronto FC’s inaugural match against Kansas City Wizards.

The stadium’s most significant physical transformation came with a $150 million renovation between 2014 and 2016 that expanded capacity to 30,000 and added a retractable roof over permanent seating areas. The renovation addressed a critical challenge: the original structure, while designed with potential CFL conversion in mind, needed physical lengthening to accommodate a regulation Canadian football field. The Toronto Argonauts relocated here beginning with the 2016 CFL season, hosting the 104th Grey Cup championship. CFL end zones were reduced to 18 yards rather than the standard 20 due to spatial constraints.

The stadium became the first non-US venue to host the MLS Cup when it held the championship in 2010. Toronto FC’s triumphant 2017 treble season culminated here as they defeated Seattle Sounders 2–0 in the MLS Cup Final, becoming the first Canadian team to win the championship. The NHL Centennial Classic on New Year’s Day 2017 drew 40,148 fans for a Maple Leafs–Red Wings outdoor game.

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, BMO Field will be expanded to 45,736 capacity through $132.9 million in upgrades. As “Toronto Stadium,” it will host six matches including Canada’s historic opening group-stage game on June 12, 2026 — cementing its place as the gateway through which Canada enters the world’s greatest sporting tournament.