FIFA World Cup 2026: Vancouver Hosts Seven Matches

[Zepfancouver]

I have been seeing lots of police trainning activity on Burrard St. It started on Mar 30 with police convoy with a large police truck, going back and forth on Burrard St,
then last week, saw 8 police convoy during a 2 day period and this morning saw 3 trainning sessions of a VIP police escort and 1 police special operation team convoy.

This morning

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[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Zepfancouver

I have been seeing lots of police trainning activity on Burrard St. It started on Mar 30 with police convoy with a large police truck, going back and forth on Burrard St,
then last week, saw 8 police convoy during a 2 day period and this morning saw 3 trainning sessions of a VIP police escort and 1 police special operation team convoy....

Hence this:

....The last FIFA costs disclosed by the B.C. government were 10 months ago, and pegged at between $532 million and $624 million, with security eating up at least $345 million. That was far higher than the original estimate in 2023 of $230 million....

https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-...ing-cagey-about-world-cup-costs-12203297

[jollyburger]

Vancouver rejects FIFA request for VIP motorcade

Authorities in Vancouver have declined a request by world football governing body FIFA for a high-level security motorcade for its president, Gianni Infantino, during the organisation’s annual congress in the Canadian city.

FIFA had sought a Level 4 police escort, a designation that would have allowed Infantino’s motorcade to bypass traffic controls, including running red lights, to ensure priority movement. The level of security requested is typically reserved for top-tier global figures and ranks just below that provided for the Pope, while aligning with protections afforded to the President of the United States and exceeding those usually granted to Canada’s prime minister.

However, the Vancouver Police Department rejected the request, citing concerns over the cost implications for local taxpayers and the potential disruption to traffic across the city.

https://guardian.ng/sport/vancouver-rejects-fifa-request-for-vip-motorcade/

[WarrenC12]

LMAO nobody cares about that loser.

[C3YVR]

https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20260430-iran-world-cup-fifa-congress-vancouver

It is funny that this is the top story on France 24 but barely mentioned in Canada yet.

[jollyburger]

Community Information Sessions

Join the Host Committee for an online (Zoom) information session to learn more about the stadium-area travel impacts and helpful tips for planning ahead. Register below.

Business Session – May 7, 2026, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Webinar Registration - Zoom
Resident Session – May 11, 2026, 6:30- 7:30 p.m. Webinar Registration - Zoom


In early May, we will share information about a match day "local traffic access pass" with addresses on restricted streets. Residents and businesses will receive detailed information by mail, including how to request passes and plan for match days.

Residents: will be mailed one pass and can request up to two additional passes online.
Businesses: will need to request passes online for company vehicles and employees with designated private parking spaces.

https://www.vancouverfwc26.ca/community-hub/road-closures

[Zepfancouver]

Science World, work begins on the sphere last Friday May 08, 2026

Captured from LIVE: Vancouver Live Cam | Cruise Ships, Vancouver Harbour, Seawall, False Creek & More!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxyNjFKwzJA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxyNjFKwzJA

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[giallo]

It'll be fun in the city when everything kicks off.

I'm lucky to be just outside of downtown, so I can hop on the train, check things out and leave. My friend isn't so lucky. He lives at Smithe and Pacific. The poor guy will have to pass two security checks just to get to his apartment. I'm not sure how he'll get his vehicle out for work during game day.

[SpongeG]

I'm finally seeing the city, mainly retailers getting onboard with FIFA stuff, many coca-cola wraps and displays, walmart has a bunch of FIFA merch, Costco has had fifa stuff for a few months now, like LEGO sets and shirts.

I haven't noticed any public space kind of stuff yet. I watched some videos from Mexico, the 3 cities hosting games, the last few weeks, and they have a lot of FIFA displays people can interact with and get pics for Instagram.

How does the event itself work? How long a period is there between the seven games? I imagine people will fly in and fly out once they've seen the game and move on to wherever their team is playing next. The way the city, like city hall, people talk about it make it sound like it will be a long month long party but is it really?

[svlt]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I'm finally seeing the city, mainly retailers getting onboard with FIFA stuff, many coca-cola wraps and displays, walmart has a bunch of FIFA merch, Costco has had fifa stuff for a few months now, like LEGO sets and shirts.

I haven't noticed any public space kind of stuff yet. I watched some videos from Mexico, the 3 cities hosting games, the last few weeks, and they have a lot of FIFA displays people can interact with and get pics for Instagram.

How does the event itself work? How long a period is there between the seven games? I imagine people will fly in and fly out once they've seen the game and move on to wherever their team is playing next. The way the city, like city hall, people talk about it make it sound like it will be a long month long party but is it really?

There's literally a game, if not like 6, every single day up until July 8 so even if it isn't in Vancouver the bars or restaurants might be packed. Whether people will care about it is another story. They really packed a lot of teams in this time.

Even before we hosted during game days (pre-covid before that weird winter world cup we had) a lot of streets were buzzing with energy if the right team played i.e. Italy on Commercial Drive.

[SpongeG]

that happens every world cup as long as I can remember, most people used to hit commercial drive. I ask cause they had someone from the city talking on the radio the other day and she said the city will be buzzing like the olympics with thousands of people coming here, and some streets will be closed off for 39 days and talked like it will be like the olympics with so many out of town visitors. It just sounds like a big inconvenience. Will out-of-towners really stay the full length of it?

Apparently the airport is prepared for the private jets. Today, they mentioned that aspect and said that 181 private planes came to YVR for Taylor Swifts shows. Thats nuts.

[madog222]

TSN will have their broadcast booth at the north end of Jack Poole Plaza.

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=296728809

[WarrenC12]

There will be a party atmosphere and that's nice, but the road closures for the entire WC around BC Place seem overkill. Who is going to hang out there for other games? Maybe some free outdoor screens will attract people but they are somehow planning for more crowds than the Canucks saw on their last Stanley Cup run. It doesn't pass the logic test IMO.

[jollyburger]

It's probably an Olympic style event in terms of terrorism risk so that's what you get for a security boundary.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It's probably an Olympic style event in terms of terrorism risk so that's what you get for a security boundary.

I disagree. This is an extremely de-centralized event across the entire continent. The Olympics is 2 weeks of extreme focus on a single city, maybe 2.

The security here far exceeds the 2010 Olympics.

[jollyburger]

All the north curb parking around Great Northern Way looks like it's some kind of staging for Translink buses for World Cup. Similar restrictions around the Main Street train station and the PNE.

[Zepfancouver]

The beautification of the Georgia Viaduct - May 14, 2026

Gif care of Vancouver Views Live - On Imgur https://imgur.com/gallery/beautification-of-georgia-viaduct-may-14-2026-world-cup-2026-t9ATStn


https://makeagif.com/i/RDWvPC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxyNjFKwzJA

[whatnext]

Wow, what a surprise that the FIFA people are jerks. I expected an organization that awarded Donald Trump their inaugural Peace Prize to have a little more class

'What an absolute joke': FIFA takes control of BC Place and kicks out a local sports museum
Hanna Hett
May 15 2026, 2:44 pm

FIFA has forced the BC Sports Hall of Fame to pack up and leave its usual home in BC Place.

As of May 14, FIFA has full exclusivity over the stadium, according to an email from PavCo, the provincial Crown corporation that runs BC Place.

“All decisions around the stadium and access are theirs until the tournament is over in July,” said PavCo in an email to Daily Hive.....

..."What an absolute joke. Maybe the worst day I’ve had in 23+ years working at the BC Sports Hall of Fame,” he wrote.

He also shared a story about an interaction his team experienced with a FIFA employee.

“A person wearing a FIFA vest approached our staff yesterday while we moved artifacts out. “Why are you still here?” this person asked us. “It’s our last day, we’re moving out,” one of our team replied. “Ok that’s good,” the FIFA rep answered. Unreal. I almost lost it.”...

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/fifa-bc-sports-hall-of-fame

[Migrant_Coconut]

Remember that one time they forced Brazil to rewrite their law and allow liquor sales in stadiums for the duration of the games?

[whatnext]

With the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I guess we should be relieved they’re playing their games in Houston!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XH1yv2MGidU&pp=ygUPV29ybGQgY3VwIGVib2xh&ra=m