Voyageurs lead massive marches in Toronto and Vancouver as World Cup fever grips Canada

Thousands of fans dressed in red flooded the streets of Toronto and Vancouver this month, drumming, chanting, and trailing plumes of colored smoke behind them. The occasion: Canada is hosting World Cup matches on home soil, and the Voyageurs, the country’s official soccer supporters group, are making sure the atmosphere matches the moment.

Canada is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, and the Voyageurs have turned what could have been passive spectatorship into something closer to a national movement.

Red waves and replica jerseys

The Toronto march coincided with Canada’s group stage opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, 2026. Vancouver’s events are timed around the June 25 fixture against Switzerland, with fans expected to pack the streets leading to BC Place stadium.

The Voyageurs are distributing 3,000 replica jerseys bearing the No. 8 of midfielder Ismaël Koné, who suffered a broken leg during Canada’s match against Qatar on June 19. Coach Jesse Marsch reportedly said he heard the bone snap from the sideline during the 51st minute.

From obscurity to institution

The Voyageurs were founded on August 30, 1996, at a match against Panama in Edmonton. For most of their existence, they were a small, dedicated band showing up to watch a team that rarely gave them reasons to celebrate on the global stage.

That changed with Canada’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the men’s team’s first World Cup appearance since 1986. Attendance at matches surged. Membership in the Voyageurs grew significantly.

Planning for these fan engagements began as early as December 2025, giving the group months to coordinate logistics, jersey distributions, march routes, and supporter displays.

Why this matters beyond the pitch

The Koné injury is a real blow. He was one of Canada’s most dynamic midfielders, and losing him mid-tournament removes a key creative outlet. The Voyageurs’ response, turning his absence into a visual statement across 3,000 jerseys, keeps his presence in the stadium even when he can’t be on the pitch.

Canada’s group features Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland. Switzerland has been a consistent knockout-round presence at recent major tournaments. Without Koné, the midfield will need others to step up.

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