When the FIFA World Cup arrives in Toronto next summer, the city plans to make sure visitors stay safe both on and off the field — by distributing more than half a million free condoms as part of a major public health initiative.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) announced the plan as part of a broader strategy to promote safety during the six FIFA matches being held in the city. Officials say large events like the Olympics and music festivals often see a spike in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the campaign aims to curb that risk through education and free safer sex supplies.
According to TPH spokesperson Dane Griffiths, more than 500,000 external condoms will be given out in soccer-themed wrappers, designed specially for the World Cup. The designs — still under wraps — will be part of a larger distribution that includes 350,000 additional items such as lube, dental dams, and internal condoms.
Health experts say the move is not just playful but practical. Andrew Townsend of Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights called it a “smart investment” that can help reduce healthcare costs by preventing infections and reducing strain on clinics. “Every person who’s not getting chlamydia isn’t taking up a walk-in clinic spot,” Townsend noted, adding that easy access to condoms helps eliminate excuses like “I ran out — I’ll risk it.”
TPH’s campaign also builds on its well-known condomTO initiative, which has used cheeky, city-themed wrappers since 2014 to encourage safe sex. Previous designs celebrated Toronto landmarks, transit lines, and sporting events like the 2015 Pan Am Games, where one wrapper featured a sports wheelchair and bra with the slogan “Play Safe.”
Townsend praised the city’s creative approach, saying themed designs help normalize conversations around safer sex. “People are having fun, they’re celebrating — so making condoms part of that culture makes perfect sense,” he said.
The first FIFA World Cup match in Toronto kicks off on June 12, 2026, at BMO Field (temporarily renamed Toronto Stadium for the event), and thanks to TPH’s campaign, visitors will find protection as readily available as game-day souvenirs.