As Toronto prepares to host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in just two weeks, homeless advocacy groups are raising alarm about what they describe as a sharp increase in security violence at Union Station. The Toronto Underhoused and Homeless Union, known as 2Who, says it interviewed approximately fifty people experiencing homelessness at the station over the past two months.
According to the advocacy group, the majority of those interviewed said they had either directly experienced or witnessed violence and harassment at the hands of security guards at the transit hub. Reports include being called names, cursed at and physically removed from the premises without cause.
Advocates say the escalation is directly linked to preparations for the World Cup. There is this mentality right now of cleaning up the streets, one advocate told CBC News. It is FIFA and we want to look a certain way. The concern is that vulnerable populations are being displaced and mistreated to present a more polished image of the city for the international event.
The pattern mirrors what has been documented at other major international sporting events around the world, where host cities have been criticised for displacing homeless populations rather than addressing the underlying causes of homelessness. Toronto's shelters have been operating at or near capacity for months, leaving many with few alternatives to public spaces.
City officials have not yet responded directly to the allegations. Canada's first World Cup match is scheduled for June 12th at BMO Field in Toronto, with preparations for fan zones and security operations already well underway across the city.