ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The mayor of Toronto will be joining street cleaning teams in a bid to spruce up the city ahead of this summer's FIFA World Cup tournament, which starts next week.

Cleaning crews and maintenance staff will carry out a range of tasks including removing graffiti, clearing weeds and litter, cutting back trees and installing new waste bins. They will also be sweeping streets, repairing potholes, repainting pavement markings and targeting illegal dumping hotspots.

Mayor Olivia Chow and deputy mayor Ausma Malik will be working alongside maintenance and cleaning staff to ensure that the streets are clear and ready to welcome thousands of residents and tourists to the games.

"When our public spaces are clean, safe and welcoming, everyone benefits," said Chow. "Keep Toronto Beautiful is about more than maintenance: it is about taking pride in our city, improving our neighbourhoods and making sure people feel comfortable and connected in the places they live, work and gather."

The cleaning blitzes will focus on eight areas around the city. These will be selected through a combination of data from daily crew patrols and 311 service requests.

The City of Toronto has asked residents and visitors to help identify locations that need attention by reporting issues online.

Six matches will be held at Toronto Stadium during the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup tournament. This will be the first time that a men's World Cup game has been played on Canadian soil.