Toronto Celebrates 100-Day Countdown to World Cup

Thousands of soccer fans gathered in Toronto on Tuesday evening to celebrate the 100-day countdown to the city's first FIFA World Cup match, kicking off preparations for the global tournament set to transform the region this summer.

The free public event, organized by the City of Toronto at the Rebel nightclub, drew crowds from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Attendees wore colors representing their favorite teams and enjoyed live performances highlighting the seven nations scheduled to play in Toronto: Canada, Croatia, Côte d'Ivoire, Germany, Ghana, Panama and Senegal. Cultural programming included food vendors from various backgrounds, reflecting the city's diverse population of more than three million residents. Former and current Toronto FC and Canadian national team players made appearances for autograph sessions, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow addressed the crowd, describing the World Cup as "an opportunity to showcase the strength of our communities and the spirit that brings people together." Fans shared their excitement as well. Karan Saini, supporting England and Portugal, called it "fantastic" to experience the event locally after years of watching...