(AGENPARL) – Fri 28 March 2025 City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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March 28, 2025
City of Toronto unveils FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host City poster by local artist
Today, the City of Toronto unveiled the official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host City poster (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/fifa-world-cup-26/) at the Toronto Archives designed by Toronto-based illustrator Dave Murray.
Murray was selected from a pool of more than 550 applicants in response to a design call last fall. His dynamic and visually striking poster will represent Toronto on the global stage, capturing the energy and passion that define both the city and the world’s most popular sporting event.
Murray’s poster features a player in motion, emblazoned with a stylized red maple leaf, preparing to strike. The oversized figure symbolizes the grandeur of the FIFA World CupTM and its importance in growing the game of soccer across Toronto, Ontario and Canada. It also highlights the city’s shoreline, with a soccer ball positioned over downtown Toronto to mark the location of Toronto Stadium. The grid pattern behind the player nods to the city’s street layout and symbolizes a quilt reflecting the vibrant and diverse people and neighbourhoods that make up Toronto. Arced lines within the quilt represent the lines found on a football pitch and the hemispheres of the planet – a literal representation of “the world in a city.” The colour palette emphasizes blue, the colour of the Flag of Toronto.
Murray is an illustrator and artist based in Toronto’s west end. With more than a decade of experience, his work has appeared in top publications and brands worldwide including the 2024 MLB Postseason and World Series, and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. Known for his bold colours, dynamic motion and sharp geometry, Murray’s style blends modern influences with cubism, deco and futurism.
The Host City poster will be showcased at the Toronto Raptors home game Friday, March 28, against the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto FC home game against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, March 29, giving fans a look at the design.
Poster process
The poster submission process attracted 552 expressions of interest from local artists and designers. A diverse jury panel consisting of graphic design professionals, art curators and Canadian FIFA Legend Dwayne De Rosario reviewed the submissions, selecting five semi-finalists who then submitted a poster design. In addition to De Rosario, the jurors were Dominic Ayre, a member of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, Mitchell F. Chan, a local artist, Erich “Heinz” Rigonan of the Remix Project, and curator, writer and translator Yan Wu.
The poster will be preserved and stored in the Toronto Archives, ensuring its legacy as part of the City’s history in hosting this significant global event.
This is the first time that a FIFA World Cup™ has included posters specific to each Host City. The artwork for each of the 16 host cities is being unveiled online one by one from Tuesday, March 18 to Thursday, April 17, with a new poster highlighted every two days at FIFAWorldCup.com.
All posters will be available for purchase beginning April 19, 2025. The Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Tournament Poster, celebrating the event across all Host Cities, will be unveiled at a later date.
Toronto will host six matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026™, beginning with the first-ever men’s FIFA World Cup™ match on Canadian soil on Friday, June 12, 2026 and a round of 32 match on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Funding and services provided by the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario will contribute to enhancing the necessary infrastructure and logistics in delivering Toronto’s matches and ancillary events for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The City extends its gratitude to all artists who participated in the design call and looks forward to showcasing this exceptional work as the city prepares to welcome the world.
Quotes
“The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is more than just a tournament—it’s a chance for our city to come together, celebrate our diversity, and share our passion for the game with the world. As we unveil this incredible Host City poster, we invite every Torontonian to be part of the excitement, from supporting our artists to cheering on the teams next summer. Let’s make this a moment that unites our communities and leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“Unveiling Toronto’s Host City poster for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ marks another exciting milestone on our journey to welcoming the world to Ontario for the biggest sporting event on the planet. Congratulations and thank you to artist Dave Murray for creating the iconic image that will fuel excitement across the city and the province in the lead up to the event. This artwork will be forever linked with these games, and the legacy they will leave behind.”
– Neil Lumsden, Ontario Minister of Sport
“The FIFA World Cup 26™ will unite Canadians from coast to coast, and Toronto — the world in a city — embodies the incredible diversity that reflects Canada’s cultural mosaic. We hope Torontonians take pride in their Host City poster as a symbol of our collective love for the beautiful game.”
– Peter Montopoli, Chief Tournament Officer, FIFA World Cup 26™ Canada
“Designing Toronto’s Host City poster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been an incredible honor. Combining my passions for art and sport on such a global stage is a dream come true. Toronto has given me the opportunity to explore the power of art and sport, and how projects like this can unite communities and bring people together in celebration. I’m excited to showcase my love for the city through this design and hope it inspires pride and excitement for what’s to come.”
– Dave Murray, Artist