FIFA World Cup 2026: Vancouver Hosts Seven Matches

[giallo]

I'm working during the game, but I'll be bringing my computer to work and watching it intermittently.

Some pics from yesterday.

[WarrenC12]

Street closures already in effect, should be a great atmosphere today.

[RedArbutus]

The Benz toy car with the kid and the pom is a great photo.

Also that TSN screen at Jack Poole Plaza looks dope.

[kikin]

the game is on and Granville is rocking

[SpongeG]

4-0!! woot

lol and Qatar just scored on itself it's now 5-0

[Migrant_Coconut]

6-0. Holy crap.

Qatar's goalie was carrying the entire team, poor bastard.

[whatnext]

I'm curious if anyone else has any kind of intel on this? I would have thought "this is just sour grapes" but then I was talking to someone today who said a food vendor in the market had told them they were also down. I was on Commerical last night (after the game was over) and restaurants were unusually quiet for a nice evening.

'Important lessons': Granville Island attraction not seeing a FIFA World Cup boost
Amir Ali
Jun 19 2026, 2:05 pm

Folks are feeling FIFA World Cup fever around Vancouver, and while some businesses are definitely seeing a big boost, some organizations in the arts community, including on Granville Island, are not.

Recently, we published a story about the Underground Comedy Club in the Gastown area, which is seeing a big drop in revenue and feels like the FIFA World Cup is to blame.

As a result of that story, we heard from the Improv Centre on Granville Island, which is also seeing a drop in visitors and feels like FIFA bears some of the blame....

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/granville-island-improv-fifa-world-cup

[Migrant_Coconut]

FWIW I was at Granville Island yesterday and the Public Market (and every venue with a screen) was packed. I guess the problem is that if you don't have food, drinks or TVs, you're in trouble.

[WarrenC12]

Granville Island is weird because they have viewing parties there.

Gastown makes sense because everybody is going to Granville.

Commercial kind of makes sense because people in east van are going to Hastings Park, and Commercial doesn't have hotels full of soccer tourists. And Italy didn't make the WC, heheh.

Bars downtown with TVs are struggling to keep up with demand.

[GenWhy?]

Be curious to know too if out of towners really know and attend local improv.

For 9 days of soccer so far i mean saying "summer" is slower than usual when it's only June 19 is a bit odd:

"Gutteridge said that summer usually does bring a small reduction in audience sizes, but the attendance generally shifts to a higher proportion of tourists visiting than at other times of the year.

“So far this summer, we are unfortunately seeing smaller audiences overall,” she said."

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Be curious to know too if out of towners really know and attend local improv.

For 9 days of soccer so far i mean saying "summer" is slower than usual when it's only June 19 is a bit odd:

"Gutteridge said that summer usually does bring a small reduction in audience sizes, but the attendance generally shifts to a higher proportion of tourists visiting than at other times of the year.

“So far this summer, we are unfortunately seeing smaller audiences overall,” she said."

It could also be that locals are staying away from downtown or GI if they're not interested in FIFA events. I've heard some coworkers say they don't want to deal with the rumoured traffic hassles.

[officedweller]

I don't think that soccer fans come in from out of town to see local arts performances and, agreed that the general congestion may be deterring local patrons.

[chowhou]

Were the Taylor Swift fans going to see local comedy improv or something? Man I sure hope the soccer fans are at least supporting the VPL!

There's always going to be some winners and some losers when there's a big event like this. We just need the pain to be outweighed by the benefits.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by whatnext

It could also be that locals are staying away from downtown or GI if they're not interested in FIFA events. I've heard some coworkers say they don't want to deal with the rumoured traffic hassles.

Yeah, yesterday the day of Canada's game the traffic was really light on my commute in from Surrey on Hwy 1. It was quite odd and going home was also lighter than normal. I stopped at Lougheed Town Centre and it was really quiet, usually all the tables and seating areas are busy but it was quite dead and they don't have any screens or anything anywhere to watch. I know the TV news the day before said to viewers to perhaps ask to work from home or expect to stay downtown a bit after work to avoid the rush to get back out.

I've been watching some livestreams, usually from Granville street and there are always some comments of people saying thank you for the stream as I do not want to go anywhere near downtown blah blah and am enjoying getting to see whats going on etc.

[SpongeG]

I've been reading a lot of comments about how awful things are in Toronto allegedly, they watch the videos from Vancouver. They say that Toronto is nothing in comparison and they wish they could be here etc. Sounds like they have a fan fest site away from downtown and nothing downtown like an equivalent of Granville street, plus sounds like they have been getting a lot of rainy days.

Seen a number of videos from Houston, Texas, too, with locals walking around downtown and showing how empty the bars and streets are and commenting that they feel like it's a bust so far, wondering where all the people are.

[Migrant_Coconut]

I do wonder what some of the overseas fans are doing here though, if they're not going to explore the city in-between matches. What's the point of travelling if all you're going to do is watch the games at a pub, get drunk, then fly back home?

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I've been reading a lot of comments about how awful things are in Toronto allegedly, they watch the videos from Vancouver. They say that Toronto is nothing in comparison and they wish they could be here etc. Sounds like they have a fan fest site away from downtown and nothing downtown like an equivalent of Granville street, plus sounds like they have been getting a lot of rainy days.

Seen a number of videos from Houston, Texas, too, with locals walking around downtown and showing how empty the bars and streets are and commenting that they feel like it's a bust so far, wondering where all the people are.

To be fair, you're also the guy who thought the near sellout crowd at the Canada-Bosnia game at BMO Field was half empty based on watching a half-second clip an hour before kickoff, so I'd take that with a grain of salt. The main fan zone is also at Fort York, which is directly adjacent to downtown (closer than the PNE is to downtown Vancouver), with other events & celebrations through out the city. From what I've seen, the vibes look just as good there as they do here, with the fan marches, street parties, etc. Eg:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZtkR5ntmta/?igsh=a3Jlb2dlc3E1bWdw
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZnbygNtWk9/?igsh=Z2tvdXBxdmNmYmt2

I do think Vancouver is better set up as a host city, with a better stadium and more games; but for some reason this world cup seems to have stirred up some weird (and entirely one-sided) feelings of competition with Toronto amongst some Vancouverites. Kind of embarrassing when we're all on the same side.

[Zepfancouver]

This whole page is a great read and I agree with all.

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

To be fair........

.....I do think Vancouver is better set up as a host city, with a better stadium and more games; but for some reason this world cup seems to have stirred up some weird (and entirely one-sided) feelings of competition with Toronto amongst some Vancouverites. Kind of embarrassing when we're all on the same side.

I Googled...If Canada beats Switzerland, then Canada will play their next game at home in Vancouver which is fantastic for Vancouver, will Toronto have a chance at a Canada knock out round and finally if Canada play in the Wolrd Cup Chapionship game, will it be playered in Vancouver or Toronto or is that championship venue already prepdetermined?...I know I'm thinking way in fantasy ahead of reality but that is why we are in the tournament, to win it all!

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I do wonder what some of the overseas fans are doing here though, if they're not going to explore the city in-between matches. What's the point of travelling if all you're going to do is watch the games at a pub, get drunk, then fly back home?

Well up to now, we had Turkey v Aus (yes some overseas fans), and Canada v Qatar (only domestic travelers). Belgians, Kiwis, Egyptians and Swiss are in over the next week, and then it's the unknown round 32 and Round of 16 (likely Swiss and Portuguese or Canadians and Portuguese for the latter). Kiwis here for 2 games so may be staying for a bit. Swiss fans might like their chances of camping out in Vancouver until July 7 (let's hope not!).

I expect we will be busier with overseas fans from today through tournament end.

[s211]

While the first game in Vancouver was being played, I stopped in at the Save-On at Cambie and 7th and it was dead, during a time of day that it would otherwise be very active. I've found my new favourite time of day to shop there: during a FIFA game!