While there’s plenty of sporting action happening on the pitch this World Cup — including our favourite sub-genre, footballers being dramatic, like Aussie Connor Metcalfe’s gloriously over-the-top celebration of his upset-sealing goal against Turkey — the stuff the internet can’t get enough of is happening in the stands, on the sidelines and on social media.
As Toronto hosts soccer’s biggest tournament for the first time, alongside Vancouver and multiple cities in Mexico and the U.S.A., athletes, celebrity guests and visiting soccer fans alike are giving us plenty to talk about.
Take a water break, grab an orange slice, and let’s run through the buzziest talking points from the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far.
Alanis Morissette has a near miss collision with players
Seconds after she belted “Oh Canada” at Toronto Stadium before Canada’s first-ever World Cup match, Alanis Morissette narrowly avoided being trampled by Bosnian players intent on crossing the field for kickoff. Mic in hand — and wearing heels — the Canadian music legend was able to nimbly hop out of the way shortly before contact was made, but it was close. Team Canada, take notes.
This was the second of three opening ceremonies for the World Cup, a first, and what happens when you’ve got three countries playing co-host.
Michael Bublé and Alessia Cara headlined alongside Morissette at Canada’s ceremony, while Shakira fronted Mexico’s and Katy Perry — supported by a certain former prime minister — led festivities for the U.S.A.
Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers watch Toronto’s first World Cup match
Last week, most celebrities were too busy haranguing their publicists to get them Knicks tickets to pay much attention to the World Cup. Ryan Reynolds, noted Canadian and majority owner of the Wrexham football side, is no such bandwagoner. In fact, he took “planes, trains and automobiles” — and a water taxi — to make sure he was in the stands at Toronto Stadium for the opening Team Canada match on Friday. “One of the greatest atmospheres this sport has seen,” he said of the evening.
Comedy icon Mike Myers, sporting a red bucket hat, was also in the stands for the historic game, as were actor Will Arnett, sprinter Andre De Grasse and soccer star Christine Sinclair.
Justin Trudeau makes his loyalties clear
Canada’s ex-PM skipped Toronto’s festivities and attended the Los Angeles opening ceremony and kickoff match, where Katy Perry, who he has been dating since last year, performed.
When this decision raised some eyebrows given Canada is also hosting this World Cup, Trudeau took to X to explain: “Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup,” he wrote, adding the Canadian flag emoji.
International visitors weigh in on the World Cup host cities
International visitors are documenting their impressions of the North American way of life in real time. A German fan known as Freddy has gone viral for documenting his discoveries while road-tripping across Canada and the U.S. for the World Cup, with the tagline “my European mind can’t comprehend this.” So far he’s given his thoughts on Bass Pro Shops, Walmart and Waffle House amassing over half a million followers along the way.
“Toronto is a good-looking city,” opined one Brit who’s made a series of popular POV videos about his time as a soccer fan visiting the city. “It has a good heart,” he said, praising the city’s friendliness and diversity.
Travelling teams sport jaw-dropping accessories
The jersey is only the beginning of the style story for the world’s top football players. While not official team kit, the French players used the pap walk off the plane as a chance to show off their enviable collection of designer bags from France’s biggest fashion houses. Kylian Mbappe carried a Dior clutch, Hugo Etikike wore a giant Chanel quilted flap bag and Ibrahima Konate toted a Louis Vuitton Speedy.
And when the Democratic Republic of Congo’s team, the Leopards, disembarked in Houston, the internet couldn’t get enough of their custom suits embellished with big cat–inspired details — bold leopard print lapels and tote bags, cheetah brooches — that nod to the team’s name and proud African heritage.
A “tartan army” of Scottish fans takes over Fenway Park
Undeterred by the fact that they were at a baseball game, not a soccer match, over 4,000 visiting Scottish football fans took over Boston’s iconic Fenway Park on the weekend. The “Tartan Army,” as these soccer-loving Scots are known, took a break from the World Cup action after their team beat Haiti to make their mark on America’s game at a special “Scottish Celebration” night in their honour. Wearing custom shirts and playing the bagpipes, they marched en masse to the stadium where they lent a unique flavour to the proceedings, from dancing to Scottish soccer staple tune “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” to belting an a cappella rendition of “The Flower of Scotland” after the American anthem was played.
The stars of ‘The Pitt’ take in a game together
When they’re not saving lives in an incredibly intense ER, the residents of hit medical drama The Pitt are soccer fans, too.
“Dormant childhood dream realized,” wrote Sepideh Moafi, who plays Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi in the show, in a caption to her Instagram carousel of photos at the USA vs. Paraguay game in Los Angeles along with her castmates Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones and Shabana Azeez.
