THE GREEN LINE
DOCUMENTERS NOTES
Join Kensington Market in preparing for next summer’s World Cup
The Kensington Market Business Improvement Area board proposed holding a street festival that would turn the neighbourhood into a patchwork of zones, each celebrating the culture of different soccer-loving nations.
A crowd of people at Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday
: Kensington Market BIA.
SEBASTIAN TANSIL
Caring mastermind based in Kensington-Chinatown who loves spending quality time with friends and family. Empathetic and precise economist by training. Loves amber yellow as it reminds him of people dearest to him.
Mary Newman
British-Canadian journalist with a decade’s experience producing for the BBC and CBC. Hails from Robin Hood country so naturally hates wealth inequality and loves organized labour. Now resides in the dog paradise of Roncesvalles.
Aug. 29, 2025
These meeting notes are part of Documenters Canada, which is partly funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Learn more about our program here. The Green Line maintains full editorial independence to ensure journalistic integrity.
Kensington Market will transform into a patchwork of supporter zones for World Cup 2026.
Even as this summer ends, the city is already gearing up for next June and July, when Toronto — along with other cities across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico — will be hosting the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup.
It will be the first-ever World Cup on Canadian soil and only the third time our men’s team has qualified for the soccer tournament. Kensington Market is one of the neighbourhoods hoping to seize the historic moment.
On Aug. 13, the neighbourhood Business Improvement Area (BIA) met to discuss plans for how to mark the occasion.
The BIA board proposed holding a street festival that would turn Kensington into a patchwork of zones, each celebrating the culture of different soccer-loving nations — including countries in South America and Europe, where many locals have roots.
The board is also interested in hosting outdoor public World Cup screenings, although municipal bylaw restrictions on noise levels and third party streaming regulations may prevent this.
The BIA plans to apply for municipal funding for up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses up to $40,000. According to the City of Toronto website, this special fund will allow “eligible local community organizations to apply for support to cover costs related to planning, promoting and delivering community celebrations during the tournament…promoting diverse areas of the city.” The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2025. Money from next year’s June Pedestrian Sunday budget will also be reallocated to host the FIFA street festival.
The BIA board voted in favour of forming a special working group for community members and business owners interested in helping shape the FIFA street festival. All those interested in joining should contact Swareena Rajkhowa, Kensington Market BIA’s coordinator at info@kensingtonmarket.to.
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