Special Edition: It’s like the World Cup, but for boys

👏 It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, Canada. The world’s biggest soccer tournament is finally on home turf, and BMO wants to make sure you’re a part of it. In partnership with Canada Soccer, they’re hosting free celebrations across Toronto.

Here’s a little peek into your Summer of Soccer plans:

• 🚇 A month-long takeover of Union Station featuring fun soccer easter eggs at platform and track level.

• 🍁 Canada House is serving up matchday fun with BMO’s interactive Goal Challenge, where fans can test their sweet soccer skills and score for prizes.

• ⚽ City-wide events including fun soccer surprises and photo ops (hello, 50-foot soccer ball on the roof of First Canadian Place).

👀 There’s even more to come…stay tuned as we kick off the Summer of Soccer with BMO.

✨Want a free (!!!) souvenir from Canada’s Summer of Soccer? We’re partnering with BMO to offer all fans free stickers, designed by Canadian artists and available at select BMO branches in host cities Toronto and Vancouver.

Give your laptop, phone case, or emotional support water bottle a new accessory at the following locations:

• 📍 Liberty Village Branch in Toronto

• 📍 Main Branch at First Canadian Place in Toronto

• 📍 Eaton Centre Branch in Toronto

• 📍 BMO’s Yaletown branch in Vancouver

• 📍 Main Branch in downtown Vancouver

North America

💪 Powerhouse — 🇺🇸 No. 17 USA (Group D): We know it’s a stretch to call the USMNT a “powerhouse,” but expectations are sky-high for the “golden generation” of American soccer. Superstar Christian Pulisic’s return to form is reassuring and winning striker Folarin Balogun’s allegiance was a major get. If only the defense wasn’t such a question mark.

😏 Contender — 🇲🇽 No. 14 Mexico (Group A): Like the U.S. and Canada, Mexico boasts a big home-field advantage, from unwavering crowd support to experience playing at altitude at Estadio Azteca. Most of all, El Tri is hungry for redemption after failing to reach the knockouts in 2022 — armed with 17-year-old midfielder Mora, the playmaking has only just begun.

👀 Dark horse — 🇨🇦 No. 30 Canada (Group B): Unlike their CanWNT counterparts, Les Rouges have never won a WC game. That said, this is arguably the most talented Canadian men’s roster ever. Even if superstar Alphonso Davies remains sidelined, rising stars like midfielder Ismaël Koné and forward Jonathan David could push Canada to a place they’ve never gone before: the knockout stage.

South America

💪 Powerhouse — 🇦🇷 No. 1 Argentina (Group J): The defending champs have a tall task ahead: No men’s team has won consecutive WCs since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Lucky for La Albiceleste fans, much of their 2022 champion core has returned, including 38-year-old superstar Lionel Messi.

😏 Contender — 🇧🇷 No. 6 Brazil (Group C): It’s been 84 24 years since five-time champs Brazil last won the WC. And while they’ve been vulnerable in recent years, their ceiling is high, thanks in no small part to brilliant head coach Carlo Ancelotti and the indisputable starpower of forward Vinícius Júnior and midfielder Neymar…if he’s healthy enough.

👀 Dark horse — 🇪🇨 No. 23 Ecuador (Group E): Don’t sleep on La Tricolor, who finished second in South American qualifying…ahead of Brazil, No. 13 Colombia, No. 16 Uruguay, and other top squads. Led by midfielder Moisés Caicedo, this rock-solid defensive team hasn’t lost in almost two years.

Europe

💪 Powerhouse — 🇪🇸 No. 2 Spain (Group H): Just like their 2010 WC win, La Roja head into this tournament as the reigning champions of Europe and have all the pieces in place to add a second star to their shirt. Teenage phenom Lamine Yamal is battling an injury, but is somehow scarier off the bench, while goalkeeper Unai Simón has serious Golden Glove potential.

😏 Contender — 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 No. 4 England (Group L): Given the Three Lions’ recent hiccups, it might seem questionable to not name No. 3 France as the contender. But, England absolutely torched their opponents in qualifying, winning all eight games and never conceding a goal. If captain Harry Kane stays healthy, then prepare to hear “it’s coming home” a lot.

👀 Dark horse — 🇳🇴 No. 31 Norway (Group I): Back at their first WC in 28 years, Norway is ready to show that anything is possible with striker Erling Haaland up front and one of the best football minds in the world, Martin Ødegaard, creating plays in the midfield. Add on that this is the tallest roster in the tourney and prepare for some set piece magic. Ponytail Channing Tatum agrees.

Africa

💪 Powerhouse — 🇲🇦 No. 7 Morocco (Group C): The Atlas Lions became the first African country to ever reach a WC semifinal in 2022, powered by their fierce counterattack and world-class defender Achraf Hakimi. Earlier this year, Morocco carried that momentum into the Africa Cup of Nations where they confusingly both lost and won the championship. That’s sure to be a talking point.

😏 Contender — 🇸🇳 No. 15 Senegal (Group I): The other participant in that wild final, the Lions of Teranga will hope to recreate some 2002 magic in their opening game against France. And they have the starpower to pull it off: Senegal is tied with Argentina for non-European countries bringing the most players from the “Big Five” leagues.

• Outside of the aforementioned final, this squad hasn’t lost in regulation since they were eliminated in the Round of 16 at the last WC. Plus, having a healthy Sadio Mané never hurts.

👀 Dark horse — 🇨🇻 No. 67 Cabo Verde (Group H): Making their first ever WC appearance, this squad is a walking Cinderella story. Their inclusion doesn’t mean we think they’ll win the whole thing, but even scoring a goal would make it a memorable inaugural tourney.

• The same is true for fellow debutants No. 50 Uzbekistan, No. 63 Jordan, and No. 82 Curaçao, the smallest country to ever qualify for a WC. Whether it’s on the men’s or women’s side, there’s nothing quite like a nation’s first WC golazo.

Want to join in on the fun, Toronto? As the Official Bank of Canada Soccer, BMO is proud to celebrate the players, fans, and communities growing the game across Canada.

Asia

💪 Powerhouse — 🇯🇵 No. 18 Japan (Group F): Lacing ’em up for their eighth consecutive WC , Japan is Asia’s most successful footballing country, but they have yet to win a knockout game. Although they’re missing major firepower upfront, the Samurai Blue became the first Asian squad to beat England earlier this year and can pull out a dub without dominating possession.

😏 Contender — 🇦🇺 No. 27 Australia (Group D): The Socceroos’ disastrous start to qualifying led to a new head coach in Tony Popovich and a complete turnaround, earning their spot without needing a playoff for the first time since 2014. They’re a physical team with a cohesive backline that can torch an opponent on the counterattack. Look out, USMNT.

👀 Dark horse — 🇸🇦 No. 61 Saudi Arabia (Group H): The only team to beat eventual champions Argentina in the last WC, the Green Falcons are no strangers to an upset. Captain Salem Al Dawsari scored a legendary goal last time around and the former Asian Player of the Year will now try to guide his country to the knockout stage for the first time. Maybe then they’ll get a Rolls Royce?

Oceania

🇳🇿 No. 85 New Zealand (Group G): The lone qualifier from the Oceania Football Confederation, New Zealand enters the tournament as the lowest ranked team, but at least they no longer have the player with the smallest social media following. While Tim Payne continues to steal headlines, expect forward Chris Wood to make a few of his own on the pitch.