The tournament continues beyond our doors, but inside Ronald McDonald House Toronto, it has become part of everyday life — bringing families together through shared experiences, unexpected reunions and unforgettable opportunities.
For a few remarkable weeks this summer, Ronald McDonald House Toronto has felt a little different.
World Cup bunting continues to brighten the House, while pop-up soccer nets have become part of everyday play.
What began with a visit from the championship trophy in May has grown into something that extends far beyond a single event. As the tournament continues, families are finding small ways to join the excitement unfolding across the city — whether they’re watching a match in the den, cheering on a favourite team or celebrating one of several unforgettable experiences made possible through our partners.
It Started with a Trophy
The excitement began in May when Ronald McDonald House Toronto welcomed the official championship trophy as part of an international tour presented by Coca-Cola.
Families had the rare opportunity to see the trophy up close, pose for photographs and meet Italian soccer legend Alessandro Nesta. The House welcomed partners from Coca-Cola, McDonald’s Canada and Ronald McDonald House Canada, but the day belonged to the families. Children proudly wore team jerseys. Parents reached for cameras. Staff and volunteers watched as one remarkable morning became the unofficial kickoff to the summer.
When the trophy left, the excitement stayed behind.
Life Between Matches
The excitement is easy to spot, but it doesn’t take over the House.
Children stop to kick a ball into a pop-up net before dinner. A few families gather in the den to catch part of a match before heading back to the hospital. Students spent part of the final weeks of school learning soccer skills during physical education classes.
Life at Ronald McDonald House Toronto continues as it always does. The tournament has simply become another welcome part of the rhythm of the summer.
A Surprise Worth Coming Back For
Some stories don’t end when families leave Ronald McDonald House Toronto.
Last year, Matteo Totolo and his family returned home after months of treatment and support at the House. By then, Matteo had become a familiar face in our classrooms, at summer camp and throughout the community. His story had become one of resilience, curiosity and the quiet determination to keep moving forward.
So when an opportunity came to surprise one family with an unforgettable match-day experience, inviting Matteo back felt like the perfect way to celebrate how far he’d come.
Without knowing what was about to happen, Matteo and his family returned to Ronald McDonald House Toronto, where a production crew captured the moment they learned they would be heading to one of the summer’s biggest matches as guests of McDonald’s.
It wasn’t simply a surprise. It was a homecoming.
After the match, the Totolo family shared photos from the day along with a note that said everything: “It was a great day.”
They added, “We appreciate all that Ronald McDonald House does for so many families and their children.”
Some Surprises Are Worth the Wait
Jessica and George Mitropoulos first came to Ronald McDonald House Toronto years ago, when both of their sons, Theo and Christian, received care at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) after being born with gastroschisis.
During some of the most difficult moments of their lives, the House helped them stay close to their children, close to care and close to each other.
This summer, their connection to Ronald McDonald House Toronto came full circle when McDonald’s Canada surprised the family with tickets to one of the summer’s biggest soccer matches — a moment that unfolded live on CTV’s CP24 news channel.
Today, Theo and Christian are active, sports-loving kids. They play hockey, love soccer and count Lionel Messi among their heroes. To them, the chance to attend the match was, in their own words, a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
After the game, the family shared photos and a message that captured the day perfectly: “Wow, what an incredible experience!”
For a family whose story with Ronald McDonald House Toronto began during a time of uncertainty, it was a chance to return to that connection in a very different season of life.
Blake’s Biggest Stage
Another Ronald McDonald House Toronto family experienced the tournament from an entirely different perspective.
At 13, Blake Robinson already understands determination better than most adults. Diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, he receives life-sustaining dialysis treatment at SickKids six days a week. Away from the hospital, he competes as an elite ball hockey player and proudly represents Team Canada.
This summer, Blake stepped onto one of the biggest stages in sport as the Coca-Cola Coin Toss Kid before Canada’s match in Toronto. Thousands of fans watched him confidently walk onto the field. His family saw something even bigger: another milestone in a journey defined by courage, resilience and an unwavering love of sport.
Part of Something Bigger
The tournament is still unfolding.
Canada’s remarkable run has come to an end, but excitement continues to build as the world’s attention remains fixed on the matches still to come. At Ronald McDonald House Toronto, families continue to follow along — gathering in the den to catch a match, talking about the latest results and cheering on their favourite teams.
Medical journeys can be incredibly isolating. Hospital appointments, treatment schedules and time away from home have a way of making life feel smaller. Over the past several weeks, this global celebration of sport has connected families staying at Ronald McDonald House Toronto to something much bigger and reminded them that life continues alongside medical care.
For some, that has meant standing beside the championship trophy. For others, it has meant returning to the House months after treatment for an unforgettable surprise or stepping onto the pitch before thousands of cheering fans.
Long after the tournament ends, families may not remember every score or every result. They will remember where they were, who they were with and how it felt to be part of something that reached far beyond the walls of Ronald McDonald House Toronto.