Richie Laryea Says His Favourite 2026 World Cup Memory Came in Toronto
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The Toronto FC defender said the atmosphere at Toronto Stadium during Canada's World Cup opener was unlike any other in the tournament
Richie Laryea played in all five of Canada's matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping the country reach the Round of 16. But for the Toronto FC defender, his favourite memory of the tournament came at home in Toronto.
As reported by BlogTO, Laryea appeared in all five matches for Canada's men's national team during the tournament. Yet, when reflecting on the tournament, the defender didn't point to Canada's largest victory over South Africa as his standout moment. Instead, he looked back to the opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium (BMO Field).
Having played youth soccer across the Greater Toronto Area before joining Toronto FC in 2019, the 31-year-old now ranks tied for seventh in franchise history with 156 appearances.
"I remember there being a ton of emotions for my family and me before our opening game," Laryea told Offside, as cited by BlogTO. Laryea said the energy was especially meaningful when fellow Toronto native Cyle Larin scored the equalizer—Canada's first goal of the home tournament—because both he and Larin hail from the city.
Playing in front of friends and family brought a specific kind of pressure. Laryea admitted to Offside that he felt the nerves, though he noted that nearly everyone on the team shared that feeling. Despite the tension, Laryea delivered what was arguably his best performance of the tournament in Toronto, winning four of four tackles and recording his only shot on target of the competition.
Since arriving back with Toronto FC, Laryea says he's really been able to see what the tournament has meant to Canada. He observed a level of support in cities like Houston and Los Angeles that far exceeded anything the team had previously experienced, telling Offside, "I felt we were building something special."
Now back with Toronto FC and preparing for the remainder of the 2026 MLS season, Laryea returns to a club that is currently two wins away from playoff contention with 19 games remaining.