Chef’s choice: Three chefs share World Cup game-day recipes

Soccer fans who will tune in to the World Cup 2026 from home can spruce up their watch parties and get-togethers with these crowd-pleasing, game-day snacks. Three chefs from restaurants across Canada recommended international flavours befitting a worldwide tournament.

Taquitos

Even though head chef Sandra Hernandez admits to not being the biggest sports fan, she is always in the loop when Mexico, her home country, is playing. Hernandez heads the kitchen at Toronto restaurant Mad Mexican, where tradition and culture is centred in their menu, she said.

She recommends Taquitos, or umami bombs wrapped in tortillas, to share with fellow soccer fans. It’s simple, easy and customizable.

Patatas bravas

Sous-chef Denis Guiol will be waving the French flag in the upcoming games. He hails from the south of France and has Spanish roots. “European soccer has been a big part of my life,” he said.

Guiol cooks for Tapeo, a restaurant in Montreal that spotlights Spanish flavours. Tapeo boasts a lineup of hot and cold tapas or small-plate dishes meant for sharing.

When it comes to game-day hosting, Guiol said fans can never go wrong with patatas bravas, a traditional Spanish appetizer. Serve these spicy roasted potato chunks that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside instead of the usual fries.

Fried chicken with gochujang glaze

Sous-chef Maxx Prevost, a Canadian with Scottish roots, is excited to be cheering for Scotland’s comeback in the World Cup – the team’s first time playing in 28 years.

Prevost works for JEJU, a restaurant in Vancouver that features uniquely South Korean flavours with a “modern West Coast” influence, where he cooks classic Korean favourites such as japchae, bulgogi and soondubu jjigae.

As a Vancouverite, Prevost’s ideal game-day party entails grabbing beer from one of the city’s breweries. Add the crowd-pleasing Korean fried chicken to the mix – crispy, sticky, sweet and a little spicy – to make watch parties more exciting.