FIFA World Cup 2026: Vancouver Hosts Seven Matches

[SpongeG]

this is going to be a big deal eh

Vancouver’s BC Place will host seven games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including three of Canada’s group stage matches. Angela Bower reports.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/video/...-2026-matches/

[svlt]

How big of a deal it is will really depend on the matchups. If we get a marquee game involving something like an England, France, Argentina etc. holy hell will hotels be swamped.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by svlt

holy hell will hotels be swamped.

There's ~13,000 rooms in Vancouver, with another ~10,000 elsewhere in the Metro. BC Place has a capacity of ~55,000. Assuming absolutely no one else needs a hotel room, and everyone double bunks, and is willing to go as far as Langley/Maple Ridge in some cases, we might be okay.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by svlt

How big of a deal it is will really depend on the matchups. If we get a marquee game involving something like an England, France, Argentina etc. holy hell will hotels be swamped.

We are getting 1 round of 16 match (Toronto nada), so we will likely see at least one of those type teams in a huge match. Half a billion people will have their eyes on Vancouver for that match.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by logan5

Half a billion people will have their eyes on Vancouver for that match.

And Vancouver will look damn sexy for it.

Even the most pessimistic resident of Vancouver has to admit the shots of BC Place with a lit-up Science World and a False Creek full of boats in the foreground, or an aerial of DT Vancouver with The Lions in the distance, or English Bay with a sunset behind several tankers and cargo ships can't be beat.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

And Vancouver will look damn sexy for it.

Even the most pessimistic resident of Vancouver has to admit the shots of BC Place with a lit-up Science World and a False Creek full of boats in the foreground, or an aerial of DT Vancouver with The Lions in the distance, or English Bay with a sunset behind several tankers and cargo ships can't be beat.

So long as FIFA doesn't take the money, run, and leave us with the debt. It's a common occurrence.

• Video Link

[whatnext]

The FIFA dates are all at a time when hotel rooms would be close to full anyway. What a waste of money. Vancouver doesn’t need to be featured on the world stage because “ nobody knows about it” anymore.

[SpongeG]

will this prompt the city to push hotel proposals through faster now? even so, they wouldn't be able to get done in time, but maybe the old Four Seasons will get its ass in gear.

I read that people are looking at staying in Kelowna and coming to Vancouver for the games.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by whatnext

The FIFA dates are all at a time when hotel rooms would be close to full anyway. What a waste of money. Vancouver doesn’t need to be featured on the world stage because “ nobody knows about it” anymore.

I don't think hosting a few World Cup matches at a pre-existing venue is the kind of loss-leader PR campaign that hosting the Olympics was. Yes, some money will need to be spent to upgrade BC place, but I think revenues generated in the local economy will easily exceed the costs to host the matches.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I read that people are looking at staying in Kelowna and coming to Vancouver for the games.

What about anchoring some cruise ships to serve as floating hotels during the matches? But I suppose all cruise ships will be busy during the World Cup given it coincides with the cruise high season.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

I don't think hosting a few World Cup matches at a pre-existing venue is the kind of loss-leader PR campaign that hosting the Olympics was. Yes, some money will need to be spent to upgrade BC place, but I think revenues generated in the local economy will easily exceed the costs to host the matches.

If we want to encourage tourism maybe that $260 million could have been spent to house the homeless and get them out of the parks.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

What about anchoring some cruise ships to serve as floating hotels during the matches? But I suppose all cruise ships will be busy during the World Cup given it coincides with the cruise high season.

They do that in Monaco for F1, so I could see them doing that here.

[svlt]

Originally Posted by whatnext

If we want to encourage tourism maybe that $260 million could have been spent to house the homeless and get them out of the parks.

That's going to do almost nothing for tourism, and government has demonstrated throwing money at the problem has not been good value per dollar spent.

Unlike the Olympics this shared WC is actually pretty good overall value because of how spread out the costs are amongst the host cities - very few people seriously argue that (or have much substance to back that argument up with).

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by svlt

That's going to do almost nothing for tourism, and government has demonstrated throwing money at the problem has not been good value per dollar spent.

Unlike the Olympics this shared WC is actually pretty good overall value because of how spread out the costs are amongst the host cities - very few people seriously argue that (or have much substance to back that argument up with).

The biggest complaint or negative comment I have heard from tourists to Vancouver is the street disorder, the junkies slumped over on downtown sidewalks, tents on streets etc.

Sure, these might be cheaper than the Olympics but that is still a quarter of a billion dollars that could have been spent elsewhere. Add in the fact it is going to take up hotel rooms at an already busy time and its not a plus for the city.

[53064043]

Originally Posted by whatnext

The FIFA dates are all at a time when hotel rooms would be close to full anyway. What a waste of money. Vancouver doesn’t need to be featured on the world stage because “ nobody knows about it” anymore.

We can't continue the discourse that Vancouver needs to host/feature these events for "exposure" to fuel future tourism. That mentality has existed for every major event that's occurred here for decades.

I agree, we're at a point now where Vancouver is world class, and deserves to be hosting world class events like the FIFA World Cup.

[djmk]

most of the tickets will be sold to locals or people driving up from Seattle.

There will be an incredible amount of couch surfing within our immigrant communities when overseas cousins find out that their country is playing here.

The people who do come are hardcore and willing fly to Nanaimo and just ferry it over (Qatar was similar)

Also, not every game is going to be packed. Maybe 4 out of the 7 will have any type of real attendance.

It's 48 teams now. Noboby is going to care about Saudia Arabia vs Mali

[C3YVR]

Originally Posted by djmk

most of the tickets will be sold to locals or people driving up from Seattle.


The people who do come are hardcore and willing fly to Nanaimo and just ferry it over (Qatar was similar)

Also, not every game is going to be packed. Maybe 4 out of the 7 will have any type of real attendance.

It's 48 teams now. Noboby is going to care about Saudia Arabia vs Mali

I think you are underestimating the value of the Vancouver schedule.
Only Vancouver, LA and Mexico City get two home games in the first stage, and for Vancouver the R32 and R16 games (of which Canada has potential to also play) will all sell out. For the three remaining games the odds of a marquee game are just as good as a poor one. Of all the cities involved Vancouver has one of the best schedules and considering we are the second smallest city (after KC) by a pretty big margin, FIFA must be pretty impressed with what they think Vancouver can achieve.
Whistler will also be able to assist with the volume of rooms needed (although Vancouver will need all the hotel rooms in can produce between now and 2026.)

[C3YVR]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

this is going to be a big deal eh

Vancouver’s BC Place will host seven games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including three of Canada’s group stage matches. Angela Bower reports.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/video/...-2026-matches/

Forgot to mention that info is incorrect, Toronto gets the first Canadian game.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by C3YVR

I think you are underestimating the value of the Vancouver schedule.
Only Vancouver, LA and Mexico City get two home games in the first stage, and for Vancouver the R32 and R16 games (of which Canada has potential to also play) will all sell out. For the three remaining games the odds of a marquee game are just as good as a poor one.

My fingers are crossed for Netherlands but Italy will be NUTS here. If they end up playing against each other here, there will be a civil war in my household and I am outnumbered and out gunned.

[madog222]

I've moved the hotel/airbnb discussion to this thread.
https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=237090