How We're Getting BC Ready for
FIFA World Cup 2026

Game On! Match Schedule Insights and How We're Showcasing BC

We are excited to welcome Australia, Switzerland, Qatar, New Zealand, Egypt, and Belgium to Vancouver along with our own Team Canada.  With this news, this felt like the right moment to share a short update on the work now rolling out on FIFA World Cup preparations from the BC Tourism FC and Destination BC and how we are extending this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity province-wide. Highlights below on the countries that will play here.

Last week, we launched two important activities that support pre- and post-match travel and will help position British Columbia on the world stage. 
 

In our global markets, we will also be hosting FIFA-themed events and desk-side media meetings to strengthen relationships and expand our coverage opportunities. To support this outreach, we have developed a comprehensive FIFA press kit designed to generate media coverage that highlights both Vancouver and destinations throughout the rest of the province.

Key takeaways include:

• The first World Cup match in Vancouver features Australia on June 13. Their opponent is the UEFA Path C winner; this will not be known until March 2026. Australia is a key market for BC!
• Canada’s two group matches in Vancouver feature Qatar and Switzerland on June 18 and June 24. Switzerland is a great market for BC because of the touring they do in the province and Qatar is high yield and luxury (Canada lifted visa requirements for Qatar earlier this month).
• Vancouver’s two Group G matches will feature Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. There is tremendous excitement about a potential game featuring Egypt’s Mohamed Salah who is one of the top goal scorers in the English Premier League and the ensuing media attention on BC.
• The UEFA Path A team to be determined in March 2026 being drawn in Canada’s group complicates what could happen for the two knockout games in Vancouver. If Italy is the UEFA Path A team, it opens up the possibility of Italy - if they win Group B - being in Vancouver for the Round of 32 match on July 2.
• Portugal is the most likely team to be featured in the Round of 16 match in Vancouver on July 7, but many other possibilities exist. 

 
And finally, we will use the full match schedule in our “Same Day Game Day” workshop later this month to explore simple, high quality day trip options for visitors travelling to and from Vancouver, from surrounding communities, on match days. With large numbers of fans expected next summer, this work will help address accommodation pressures and create easy ways for visitors to experience nearby communities.
 
There are many more things underway and we will continue to share information as we get closer to the games.