Toronto is setting up a slate of World Cup watch parties for Thursday’s Mexico vs. South Africa opener, with Nathan Phillips Square leading the public options and several bars and venues joining in across the city. The first match of the tournament begins the day’s schedule, and fans will have multiple places to catch it at 3 p.m. or earlier.
That timing is why toronto weather is already part of the conversation for fans deciding where to go. The city-run screening at Nathan Phillips Square starts at 3 p.m. and does not require tickets, while Gibbons downtown opens its watch party at 2 p.m. with free advance tickets, limited general admission at $4 and a four-pack at $7.
Lula Lounge is also opening its doors at 2:30 p.m. for a match screening on a 14-foot LED screen and five 75-inch TVs spread across the venue. Admission is free, but booking comes with a minimum food and beverage spend of $40 per person, a detail that may matter as much as the kickoff time for anyone trying to plan an afternoon around the match.
Thai Tavern will begin screening at 3 p.m. with no tickets required, walk-ins welcome and reservations recommended. RendezViews will also show Mexico vs. South Africa at 3 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, and fans can join the guest list online, though that does not guarantee a seat.
Nathan Phillips Square is adding more than a screen to the mix. Fans there will also be able to play soccer on the Visa Street Soccer Park, which is replacing the fountain space in the square. More information is available on the city’s website, but the main attraction is clear: Toronto is giving supporters a choice of free public viewing and neighborhood watch parties for the first World Cup match of the tournament.
The open question is not whether there will be a place to watch Thursday’s game. It is how many people head outdoors for the city screening versus the bars and patios, and whether the weather pushes fans toward the venues with reserved spots, covered screens and a minimum spend attached.
