Summary:
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 at the World Cup.
- Toronto Stadium hosted its sixth and final FIFA World Cup 2026 match before a sold-out crowd.
- Officials and coaches praised the venue, atmosphere and transport operations throughout the tournament.
Toronto Stadium hosted its final FIFA World Cup 2026 match on Thursday night in memorable fashion as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos inspired Portugal to a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Croatia, bringing the city’s role as a World Cup host to a close.
All 43,036 seats were occupied at the stadium as the crowds gathered for the Round of 32 encounter, creating one of the tournament’s most vibrant atmospheres thanks to the large Portuguese and Croatian communities across Ontario.
Cristiano Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot in the 68th minute after a VAR review awarded Portugal a spot kick.
The goal marked another milestone in the veteran forward’s remarkable World Cup career before Ramos scored the winner in stoppage time to send Portugal into the Round of 16, something that many sports aficionados had probably already anticipated.
Portugal’s Head Coach: “It Was Incredible”
The match was the sixth and final World Cup fixture played at Toronto Stadium, known as BMO Field during regular club competitions. The venue staged five group-stage matches before hosting its lone knockout game.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez praised both the stadium and the tournament organization.
Congratulations to everybody involved. It was incredible
Martínez said, highlighting the quality of the pitch, facilities and the atmosphere created by supporters.
He added that it was “a shame there are no more games here” after describing the experience as an “incredible spectacle for football”
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić also applauded the atmosphere despite his team’s elimination, saying the strong support from Croatian fans made the occasion special.
The successful conclusion of Toronto’s World Cup schedule also marked the end of a major transport operation. According to the Toronto Transit Commission, adjustments made during the tournament helped ensure spectators moved efficiently to and from the stadium via GO Transit, streetcars and buses.
With Toronto’s hosting duties now complete, the city is ready to close the curtain on what organizers consider a successful FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.
