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Vancouver 2026 World Cup City Guide
Everything you need to know about visiting Vancouver for the 2026 World Cup 🍁
✒️ By the worldcup-travel.com team | 📅 Updated 12 August 2025
Hi! Welcome! Here in our Vancouver 2026 World Cup travel guide we’ll be running you through all there is to know about getting to Vancouver, traveling around the city and between host cities, along with details about BC Place (officially called “Vancouver Stadium” by FIFA). We’ll also help you find your way through hotel bookings or house rentals, car rentals, public transportation in and around the city, and lots more.
Learn more about visiting Vancouver for the World Cup
So much to do and so little space in Vancouver for the 2026 World Cup
It’s a fact – we have never heard anyone say that they don’t love Vancouver after spending time in the Canadian city. Located just across the USA-Canada border in British Columbia, locals thrive on an outdoorsy lifestyle with stunning views of the ocean and mountains, a culturally diverse population and food scene, and strong community ties. It’s been coined “Hollywood North” due to hundreds of film and television productions filming there each year, thanks to tax incentives and a robust film crew pool. And for our purposes, they’ve got a bangin’ soccer scene. The city, which is about double the size of Manhattan, is home to the MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Canadian Football League’s (CFL) BC Lions.
While ice hockey and maple syrup may be Canada’s most well known exports, Canadians are also known the world over for their kindness and hospitality. So, expect welcoming vibes when you touch down in Vancouver for the 2026 World Cup.
However, there are potentially some issues in store in the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver is estimating 350,000 visitors for the World Cup, but the city only has 13,000 hotel rooms. This means that finding accommodation in Vancouver for the 2026 World Cup might be a bit of a fight. Still, the city’s officials say they’re working on ways to alleviate the problem, there’s even talk of partnering with local ferry companies to encourage visitors to stay in places further out, like Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
We expect short-term house rentals through companies like VRBO and Airbnb to make a big splash for the games, although Vancouver has fairly strict rules about who can and cannot rent out their homes.
With preparations changing on the daily for the 2026 World Cup in Vancouver, we recommend signing up to our email list so we can share more information as soon as it becomes available. And if you’re interested in volunteering for the World Cup in Vancouver (or any of the 16 host cities), you can apply now. Volunteer Team Tryouts start in October and training happens in March. There are a few cool perks, too!
Vancouver 2026 World Cup FAQs
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Vancouver Stadium is located in Downtown Vancouver.
If you’re not walking there, take SkyTrain to Stadium-Chinatown Station or Yaletown-Roundhouse Station, just a few blocks from the stadium.
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MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps FC play at BC Place (although there are talks of moving to a new location).
Vancouver Rise FC will compete in the Northern Super League from 2025 – the top level of women’s pro soccer in Canada.
Vancouver FC play in the Canadian Premier League and are based in Langley – 45 minutes outside the city.
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Seattle, USA (231 miles stadium-to-stadium)
San Francisco Bay Area, USA (976 miles stadium-to-stadium)
Los Angeles, USA (1,282 miles stadium-to-stadium)
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Seven 2026 World Cup games will be played in Vancouver: Five group games (including Team Canada’s second and third games); one Round of 32, and one Round of 16.
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The weather in Vancouver in June can be on the chilly side with temperatures ranging from 54°F to 60°F (12°C to 20°C), but towards the end of the month, expect it to start warming up a bit.
Lots of rain is still a possibility in Vancouver in June, so pack those raincoats!
In July, Vancouver will be warmer and sunnier. July is typically the driest month of the year. Daytime temps will range from 70°F to 75°F (21°C to 24°C), but nights can still drop as low as 57°F (14°C).
Which 2026 World Cup matches will be held in Vancouver?
Match 6 – Saturday, June 13, 2026 – Group Stage
Match 27 – Thursday, June 18, 2026 – Group Stage (Canada’s second match)
Match 40 – Sunday, June 21, 2026 – Group Stage
Match 51 – Wednesday, June 24, 2026 – Group Stage (Canada’s third match)
Match 64 – Friday, June 26, 2026 – Group Stage
Match 85 – Thursday, July 2, 2026 – Round of 32 (Knockout stage)
Match 96 – Tuesday, July 7, 2026 – Round of 16 (Knockout stage)
Fan-Fueled Adventures in Vancouver
We spoke to football-loving locals to get their take on the 2026 World Cup host cities they call home. Mauricio Lozano is a Vancouver Whitecaps season ticket holder and owns Faculty Brewing Co in the city - a must-visit during the tournament. His advice for fans heading to Vancouver for the 2026 World Cup:
Above: Best seats in the house. Photo courtesy of Mauricio Lozano
Vancouver is stunning, with nature all around. So if you can, allow yourself time to go on a hike up Grouse mountain, Seymour, or Cypress, or rent a bike and ride along the seawall, or around Stanley Park. Enjoy a nice picnic day at a local beach – I highly recommend it. The city is very walkable, but it can rain, so always carry a little rain jacket or umbrella!
The city has 22 breweries, all located in two neighbourhoods – Mount Pleasant and East Vancouver – so a self guided brewery crawl in Vancouver is a must (and make sure to pop by Faculty Brewing Co!). The city has so many amazing restaurants from all over the world, so this a place where you can definitely experiment with different food cultures.
For visiting the stadium: The stadium roof opens on sunny days, so bring a cap and sunglasses in case you end up in a sunny spot. There are weird rules about backpacks and purses, so it’s best not to bring any. They only allow a tablet-sized transparent bag to be brought into the stadium.
Get more in-the-know tips from Mauricio on our Vancouver World Cup transport guide.
Visiting Vancouver for the 2026 World Cup
Vancouver is a very walkable city, and since Vancouver Stadium is located Downtown, don your best walking shoes and a raincoat, and you’re pretty much set to get to the 2026 World Cup games. If you decide to stay further outside the city – which may be necessary due to hotel room shortages – public transportation is excellent and TransLink connects surrounding regions to the city.
Even if you don’t get World Cup tickets, you can get in on the local action at the FIFA Fan Festival at Hastings Park. The venue has a brand-new open-air amphitheater and overlooks Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains. Just your average gorgeous Vancouver spot.
Doing Vancouver like a local
Even though Vancouver is a city, nature is all around – from the Strait of Georgia leading to Vancouver Island, to the North Shore Mountains rising above the cityscape. Locals love a day out, whether it means hiking up Grouse Mountain, strolling or biking along the seawall, laying out at one of the many city beaches (some are clothing optional!), or a picnic at Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America.
Vancouver is known for its craft beer scene, and many of its breweries are concentrated in Mount Pleasant and East Vancouver. With nearly 50 percent of the population non-English speakers, the international cuisine is outstanding. Eat phenomenal Vietnamese and Cambodian at Phnom Pehn or hit up Tom Sushi for Japanese. Of course, the seafood is top-notch in this coastal city, so whatever the cuisine, order the fish dish.
For 2026 World Cup travelers, Vancouver has plenty of places to offer soccer-loving fans a spot to watch the games if getting to the stadium is looking tough. Tap & Barrel Bridges on Granville Island and Yaletown Brewery are both local go-to establishments for Whitecaps games. For that Downtown energy, Score on Davie and Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill should be on your list. The Kings Head Pub in Kitsilano is said to be another fun stop for maybe more casual fans. Which we know you are not.
