Flying into Toronto for the World Cup? Getting from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to BMO Field at Exhibition Place is straightforward — and there's no need to rent a car or pay for a taxi. Toronto has fast, affordable transit options that get you stadium-ready in under an hour.
This guide breaks down every option: the fastest route, the cheapest route, and what to avoid on match days.
Union Pearson Express from Pearson to Union Station (28 min), then the 509 or 511 streetcar to Exhibition Place (15 min). Total door-to-door: ~55–65 minutes. Simple, reliable, no transfers beyond one.
This is the fastest and most reliable route for World Cup visitors. The Union Pearson Express (UP Express) is a dedicated airport rail link that runs directly to Union Station in downtown Toronto — no stops, no traffic. From Union, the TTC streetcar takes you straight to the stadium.
Follow signs for "UP Express / Train" inside any terminal. The UP Express station connects Terminals 1 and 3 via the LINK train (free, runs continuously). The UP Express platform is clearly signed.
Trains run every 15 minutes. Journey time: 28 minutes. Buy a ticket at the machine or use the UP Express app before boarding. One-way adult: $12.35 CAD (or use Presto card for a discount).
Exit UP Express, follow signs to the TTC streetcar stop on Front St W / Bay St. Board the 509 (Exhibition) or 511 (Bathurst) westbound. Pay $3.30 CAD or tap your Presto card.
Ride the streetcar to the Exhibition Place / Princes' Gates stop. BMO Field is a 5–8 minute walk from the streetcar stop — follow signs for Toronto Stadium / BMO Field.
A Presto card (Toronto's transit card) gets you a discounted UP Express fare (~$9.60 CAD instead of $12.35 CAD) and covers the TTC streetcar fare at $3.30 CAD. Pick up a Presto card at the UP Express station inside the airport. Loads instantly with credit card.
If you want to go directly from Union Station to Exhibition Place without a streetcar, the GO Lakeshore West train is a great option — it's one stop from Union to Exhibition GO station, which puts you right at the stadium doors.
Same as Option 1 — 28 minutes from Pearson, every 15 minutes.
Follow signs to the GO Train platforms inside Union Station (same building, lower level). Take the Lakeshore West line westbound. Exhibition GO is the first stop — 5 minutes from Union.
Exhibition GO station exits directly into Exhibition Place. BMO Field is a 3–5 minute walk from the platform.
GO Lakeshore West trains run less frequently than TTC streetcars, especially midday. On match days, GO adds extra trains — but check the schedule at gotransit.com or the GO Transit app before you travel. Missing a GO train can mean a 30–60 minute wait.
Convenient and direct, but significantly more expensive — especially on match days when surge pricing kicks in and traffic around Exhibition Place is heavy.
Renting a car and driving to the stadium on match days is strongly discouraged. Here's why:
If you've rented a car for other parts of your Toronto trip, park it at your hotel and take transit to the stadium. Every hotel in downtown Toronto is within a 5–10 minute walk of a TTC stop.
| Option | Time | Cost | Reliability on Match Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| UP Express + TTC Streetcar | 55–65 min | ~$15 CAD | Excellent |
| UP Express + GO Train | 50–60 min | ~$17 CAD | Good (check schedule) |
| Uber/Taxi | 35–70 min | $45–150+ CAD | Unpredictable (surge + traffic) |
| Driving | 45–90+ min | $20–50+ CAD parking | Poor — not recommended |
If you want to minimize travel on match days, these neighbourhoods put you within walking or a short streetcar ride from BMO Field:
Match schedule, interactive map, best bars, AI deal finder, and all transit tips in one place.
Approximately 55–65 minutes using the recommended UP Express + TTC streetcar route. On match days, allow an extra 15–20 minutes for crowds at transit stops.
UP Express + TTC streetcar — approximately $15.65 CAD total. Using a Presto card reduces this to around $12.90 CAD.
No — the UP Express goes to Union Station. From Union you take either the TTC streetcar (509/511) or GO Train one stop to Exhibition Place, which is adjacent to BMO Field.
Every 15 minutes, 7 days a week from early morning to midnight. On major match days, check the UP Express website as they may run additional services.
Yes — Exhibition GO station (one stop from Union on GO Lakeshore West) exits directly into Exhibition Place, a 3–5 minute walk to BMO Field. This is the closest rail station to the stadium.
Most international visitors do not need a visa — only a Canadian eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which costs CAD $7 and can be applied for online in minutes. Check Canada.ca for your country's specific requirements.