FIFA’s Fan Festival in Toronto is evacuated and closed for the day during the World Cup opening match being shown on a large screen. According to reports, thousands of fans gather at Fort York grounds to watch Mexico play South Africa. Shortly after the match begins and with the game later reaching just before half-time, organizers stop the broadcast and the screen displays a cancellation notice. As some attendees react with boos, staff announce that the event will be cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. Organisers then escort people out, citing an “abundance of caution” and a specific “risk of lightning.” A statement says safety is the top priority and that the FIFA Fan Festival Toronto will not reopen that night.
The incident occurs as Toronto prepares to host multiple World Cup matches at BMO Field. The reports also note that weather has disrupted other preparations, including an England-related match delay in Orlando caused by heavy rainfall.
