FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in Toronto in just a few days, and considering how expensive the tournament is, some fans are skipping out on stadium tickets altogether in favour of more authentic experiences. The city is home to more than 250 ethnicities and 160 languages, so we can expect tons of neighbourhood gathering spots to turn into full-blown home bases for hundreds, if not thousands, of fans cheering on their home countries.
For Seleção fans, that neighbourhood is Little Portugal.
The area stretches through Dundas West and College, between Lansdowne and Ossington. During the World Cup, you’ll spot red and green flags proudly waving inside sports bars and family restaurants, with fans in Team Portugal jerseys drifting between cafés and patios before kickoff.
Portugal was drawn into Group K, so it won’t play any of its matches in Toronto, but Little Portugal will still be one of the best areas in the city to watch the home team face DR Congo (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 23) and Colombia (June 27)!
Even though most of the official FIFA action will be at the Fan Festival, Little Portugal is worth checking out for a more local neighbourhood experience. Here’s how to make the most of a match day.
Stroll along Dundas West
Up for a little people watching? Skip the car: Little Portugal has narrow side streets and few parking spots, so it’s best experienced on foot. Start along Dundas West. The neighbourhood has this old-school new-school type of vibe: think vintage Portuguese bakeries alongside family-run restaurants, indie cafés and sports bars.
Before heading to the bars, grab an espresso and a pastel de nata at Nova Era Bakery (1172 Dundas St W), or stop by Caldense Bakery(1209 Dundas St W) for coffee and some of the most delicious custard tarts in the city. Head to Brazil Bakery & Pastry (1566 Dundas St W) for a mid-afternoon snack of Portuguese cakes, pastries and Portuguese-style cured ham and cheese on a crusty bun.
Where to watch a World Cup match in Little Portugal
For Portugal match days, two names should be at the top of your list: Nossa Casa Sports Cafe (1331 Dundas St W) and Amigos da Dundas (1570 Dundas St W). Just make sure to arrive early!
Nossa Casa is a more low-key spot, with no major social media presence, but it’s a popular neighbourhood hangout for locals. When you walk in, you’ll get that ‘I’ve stepped into someone’s personal match-day space’ type of feeling, which is kind of part of the appeal. Throughout the match, indulge in a juicy traditional bifana pork sandwich served on a soft Portuguese bun, or the garlic-marinated prego steak sandwich on a crusty roll. If you’re with a group, order the pica a pau: bite-sized sautéed meat served over fries with pickled veggies and olives.
A little further west, Amigos da Dundas Sports Bar is a major go-to for Portugal fans. It’s a bit livelier, with Portuguese food, large-screen TVs and a tempting menu: bifana with marinated pork cutlets, sauce, onions and peppers; prego with grilled beef, sauce and onions on a Portuguese bun; and Amigos pica pau with fries, fried beef and pickles. Complement your meal with a few Super Bock pale lagers, and you’ll have a cheering–singing–table-slapping kind of evening.
Post-match celebrations
Portuguese food is suddenly everywhere in Toronto, so a proper Little Portugal World Cup day should involve much more than one stop (and definitely more than one bite). And whether Portugal wins or loses, there will be tons of spots post-match to hangout with locals.
Bairrada Churrasqueira (1560 Dundas St W) is a family-owned Portuguese restaurant that’s famous for its piri piri chicken, huge steaks and succulent seafood (don’t skip their hot sauce). For something more modern, Taberna LX (1161 Dundas St W) brings a Lisbon-inspired version of Portuguese dining to the neighbourhood. Try the classic francesinha: it celebrates flavours from the north of Portugal and is made with in-house chouriço and mortadella. The two-storey restaurant features Azorean wines and fruity cocktails that you can sip on a rooftop patio after the match.
On the College side, Taberna Nacional (928 College St) will complete your food crawl. It has a patio and an in-house brewhouse, with a menu that includes black tiger shrimp with garlic and piri piri, grilled chouriço, piri piri chicken wings, francesinha, Guia-style Cornish hen and pastel de nata. Bonus: This is apparently Nelly Furtado’s go-to spot for the World Cup!
After visiting Little Portugal, check out these five community-based World Cup celebrations where fans can cheer for their home countries.
