Canada could potentially face Italy in their opening match on June 12 in Toronto at next summer’s World Cup draw, sparking excitement in Toronto’s Little Italy neighborhood. The Canadian men’s soccer team was drawn against Switzerland from Pot 2 and Qatar from Pot 3, with a European team from Pot 4, likely to be Italy if they qualify, completing the group.
Rocco Mastrangelo, co-owner of Cafe Diplomatico, expressed his anticipation, stating, “I literally have butterflies in my stomach.” He mentioned that Italians in Toronto are hopeful and eagerly praying for their team to secure a spot in the tournament.
Italy, ranked 12th, is set to participate in a European playoff in March alongside Wales, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The winner of this playoff will face Canada on June 12 at Toronto’s BMO Field.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, Canada was placed in Group B which also has Qatar, Switzerland and the yet-to-be-determined winner of Playoff A. Canada’s World Cup opener is set for June 12 in Toronto.
Mastrangelo emphasized the potential Canada-Italy matchup as an electrifying event for Toronto and its sizable Italian Canadian community. He mentioned the expected preparations for viewing parties, barbecues, and the possibility of attending the match at BMO Field, coinciding with the start of the popular Taste of Little Italy street festival.
Jordan Nunes from Danny’s Pizza Tavern shared his excitement for the prospect of Italy playing against Canada, envisioning packed bars, lively streets, and pop-up patios with large screens for the event.
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While Mastrangelo expressed being torn about who to support in a Canada-Italy match, Nunes declared his allegiance to the home country. Nader Ibrahim, a Toronto