Overview
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is expected to bring significant visitor volumes, large public gatherings, increased crowd movements, concurrent events, and heightened international attention to Toronto. These conditions place increased demands on policing and require strong planning, coordination, effective governance and operations, and sustained readiness across policing partners to ensure community safety.
The Toronto Police Service is responsible for planning and delivering policing throughout the tournament while continuing to provide day-to-day policing across the city.
The Toronto Police Service Board provides governance of this work, including maintaining awareness of planning, assessing risks, and supporting accountability as preparations advance.
Image
Purpose of Monitoring
The Inspector General’s ongoing monitoring of the Service and Board reflects his mandate under the Community Safety and Policing Act to monitor and support effective policing and police governance in Ontario. This monitoring provides independent oversight of policing preparedness of community safety for FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The ongoing engagement between the IoP, Toronto Police Service and Toronto Police Service Board has been underway since early 2026 and focuses on how planning, coordination, and board governance are advancing strong policing performance and community safety compliance with Ontario’s policing laws.
Through this work, the IoP also supports the identification of emerging or significant issues so that policing and police governance contribute to a safe and secure event environment for residents and those visiting the city.
Image
Monitoring Approach
The IoP carries out monitoring and advisory activities on an ongoing, proactive, and risk-based basis to support police services and boards in meeting their responsibilities under Ontario’s policing framework, including the requirement to deliver adequate and effective policing.
This work is conducted through briefings, meetings, site visits, and ongoing engagement, including information-sharing and analysis of relevant materials.
Monitoring takes place in real time as preparations advance, reflecting the IoP’s modern approach to policing oversight.
Image
Focus Areas
The IoP’s monitoring considers a range of areas related to policing preparedness for community safety during FIFA World Cup 2026™. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
-
Preparedness and Planning
How the Toronto Police Service is preparing for the scale and complexity of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, including the impacts of large crowds, increased visitor volumes, and sustained operational demands on service delivery.
-
Board Governance
How the Toronto Police Service Board is informed and engaged in overseeing planning, risk management, and preparedness in accordance with its responsibilities.
-
Coordination Across Agencies
How roles and responsibilities are defined and how policing agencies coordinate planning and delivery for the event.
-
External Police Support
The role of assisting police services, including inter-agency arrangements and relevant legislative and governance frameworks.
-
Information Sharing and Situational Awareness
How timely information-sharing arrangements support situational awareness and informed decision-making during the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
-
Overall Policing Preparedness
How these elements collectively contribute to policing preparedness for a major international event.
-
Continuity of Day-to-Day Policing
How policing services will continue across Toronto during the FIFA World Cup 2026™, including maintaining day-to-day policing while supporting the event.
Image
Monitoring Highlights
On June 5, 2026, the Inspector General received a briefing from Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll and Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw on preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026™. The briefing included a tour of the Toronto-Integrated Safety and Security Unit Area Command Centre. Based on the briefing and ongoing monitoring to date, the Inspector General has confidence that the key elements are in place and preparations are well advanced to support policing readiness for the tournament.
Image
