Canada has kicked off its FIFA World Cup celebrations in record-breaking fashion after hosting the world’s largest game of human foosball, bringing together hundreds of participants in a unique football-themed event near Toronto.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) organised the event on May 23 at Humber Polytechnic’s Lakeshore Campus West in Etobicoke, a district in Toronto. The initiative formed part of celebrations leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada will co-host alongside the United States and Mexico.
Guinness World Records has officially confirmed the attempt as the largest human foosball match ever held.
The event attracted 254 participants who took positions on giant horizontal poles designed to replicate the layout of a traditional tabletop foosball game. Players remained attached to the poles while attempting to manoeuvre a football and score goals against the opposing side.
Organisers transformed a large outdoor field into an oversized version of the popular table game, creating a spectacle that drew spectators, football fans and community members.
World Cup Excitement Builds in Canada
The record-breaking event comes as Canada prepares to host matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first tournament to feature 48 teams and 104 matches.
Toronto and Vancouver will serve as Canada’s host cities. Toronto is scheduled to stage six World Cup matches, including Canada’s opening game of the tournament.
Officials said the human foosball challenge aimed to generate excitement ahead of the competition while encouraging community participation through sport.
Neil Lumsden, Ontario’s Minister of Sport, highlighted the symbolic value of the event.
“Soccer is about teamwork, energy and shared experience, and a human foosball Guinness World Records attempt brings those elements to life in a fun and unforgettable way,” he told Guinness World Records.
Football has experienced rapid growth across Canada in recent years. Increased participation at youth and community levels, combined with Canada’s qualification for recent World Cups, has helped boost the sport’s popularity nationwide.
The country also hopes the 2026 tournament will leave a lasting legacy through improved sporting infrastructure, tourism growth and greater community engagement.
Guinness Confirms Historic Achievement
Representatives from Guinness World Records reviewed the attempt and later confirmed that organisers had successfully broken the previous mark.
The official recognition adds another milestone to the growing list of World Cup-related activities taking place across North America before the tournament begins.
Human foosball events have gained popularity worldwide as entertainment attractions and team-building activities. However, organisers say no previous event matched the scale of the Ontario attempt.
Participants described the challenge as physically demanding but highly entertaining because players had to coordinate movements while remaining attached to fixed poles, similar to figures in a foosball table.
For organisers, the successful record attempt served as both a celebration of football culture and a preview of the enthusiasm expected when the FIFA World Cup arrives in Canada next year.
With the countdown to the tournament underway, officials hope similar community-focused events will continue building momentum and inspiring new generations of football fans across the country.
