Germany: Beer, Football, and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Boom

As Ontario prepares to welcome the world for FIFA World Cup 2026™, Forward Motion continues its Road to FIFA World Cup 2026™ series, celebrating the countries, cultures, and communities that will be part of the tournament experience in Toronto.

In this episode, host Andrew Siegwart speaks with Anne Wagner-Mitchell, Consul General of Germany in Toronto, about the deep ties between Germany and Ontario, including the more than 1 million Ontarians of German heritage and strong German roots in Toronto, Mississauga, and Kitchener-Waterloo.

From German clubs and Kitchener’s Oktoberfest to Toronto’s monthly German Walk, Anne shares how German culture continues to shape communities across Ontario. The conversation also explores German cuisine, beer traditions, and travel inspiration, including the Rhineland and Spreewald.

Anne reflects on Germany’s 2006 World Cup, remembered as the “fairy tale summer,” and what major sporting events can mean for tourism, culture, and economic growth. With Germany set to play in Toronto during FIFA World Cup 2026™, she shares the excitement building among German fans and the German-Canadian community.

The episode closes with Anne’s recommendations for visiting fans, from Toronto’s neighbourhoods and island skyline to Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Muskoka, and Algonquin Park.

With Ontario Craft Beer Week running June 14–20, it’s also a great time for visiting fans and local listeners to explore Ontario’s craft breweries and the local communities behind them.

Resources:

German Walk with Bruce Bell (Toronto): German Walk with Bruce Bell - Federal Foreign Office

Ontario Craft Brewers - Find a Brewery Near You: Trails | Ontario Craft Brewers

Forward Motion thanks its partners for their support of this show:

Ontario Travel & Tourism Monthly

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