The Vancouver 2026 World Cup Matches Have Been Announced!

February 4, 2024
RC
ByRick Chung
6 min read

Huge news for football/soccer fans! The 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule has been announced, with Vancouver hosting seven matches total across the tournament at BC Place Stadium. The global tournament will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three North American nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

While the World Cup may still be 2½ years away, there’s plenty of time to plan your trip to the city before coming for the world’s biggest sporting event and enjoy everything the world-class city has to offer.

Every four years, the World Cup unites billions of fans from across the globe. In 2026, Vancouver gets another opportunity to showcase itself as a world-class destination, share the city’s diverse culture, and show off our inclusive team spirit.

Matches

Photo: PavCo/BC Place Stadium

The World Cup will take place in June and July 2026, and the Vancouver FWC matches are scheduled for:

  • Saturday, June 13 – Group Stage Match
  • Sunday, June 21 – Group Stage Match
  • Wednesday, June 24 – Team Canada Group Stage Match
  • Friday, June 26 – Group Stage Match
  • Thursday, July 2 – Round of 32 Match
  • Tuesday, July 6 – Round of 16 Match

The opening World Cup match is set for Mexico City on June 11. Canada’s opening match happens on Friday, June 12, at BMO Field in Toronto, with Vancouver hosting 2 of the 3 Team Canada matches.

Tournament

Photo: PavCo/BC Place Stadium

The match schedule includes 104 tournament matches of the game-changing tournament in 2026. Fans from all over the world will descend to the city. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was selected as the host for the World Cup final on July 19, with Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens hosting the bronze medal match. Vancouver will host five group stage matches, including two Team Canada matches, one round of 32 match, and one round of 16 match.

2026 will cement Vancouver as one of the premier cities and venues in the world for hosting international sporting events like the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Canada will be hosting the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2026, almost 40 years after it first started hosting FIFA events and 11 years after it welcomed the world to one of the most successful FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments ever in 2015.

Sports to Watch in Vancouver

Photo: PavCo/BC Place Stadium

Visit BC Place, Vancouver’s premium stadium that houses top-notch live sports and music events before it plays host to any World Cup matches. Experience Canadian football by getting tickets to see British Columbia’s CFL team, the six-time Grey Cup champion BC Lions, hit the field. Get into the football spirit by watching the hometown Vancouver Whitecaps play a Major League Soccer game.

For fans of ice hockey, check out Rogers Arena next door to catch the NHL’s top-ranked Vancouver Canucks currently on pace for their best regular season yet. If you’re interested in Canada’s national summer sport, witness the Vancouver Warriors in a fast-paced game of lacrosse.

Where to Stay

Photo: St. Regis Hotel Vancouver

Downtown Vancouver has many fine hotel choices, from the standard fare to more luxurious and boutique choices. Places close to BC Place for easy access to World Cup festivities include the JW Marriott and Douglas Hotel.

Classics like the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Rosewood Hotel Georgia are your best bets for high-end hotels. The Fairmont Pacific Rim and the Pan Pacific Hotel are both great waterfront hotels overlooking Coal Harbour to stay at.

The St. Regis Hotel and Georgian Court are in the middle of everything for those looking for centrally located city centre hotels. More family-oriented options are the Rosedale on Robson or Hotel BLU. Consider the Hotel Belmont or Moda Hotel as more boutique options downtown.

Where to Eat

Photo: Destination Vancouver

Vancouver’s reputation as a culinary destination has been further cemented with the arrival of the prestigious Michelin Guide to the city two years ago. No matter what kind of food or cuisine you might desire before or after a match or event, there’s somewhere to satisfy your cravings.

Top restaurants near the stadium include Chambar, The Victor, Glowbal, Per Se Social Corner, Fanny Bay Oyster Bar, Provence Marinaside, Tacofino, and the Michelin-recommended Elisa Steak.

False Creek, Photo: Destination Vancouver

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to welcome millions of fans to its 16 iconic venues in unique cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver.

For questions on the match schedule release, tickets or tournament information, contact FIFA Media at media@fifa.org. For questions about the City of Vancouver’s delivery of the event, email media@vancouver.ca.

To learn more about Vancouver as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, visit Vancouver FWC 26’s website or follow them on Instagram, X/Twitter, and Facebook at @FWC26Vancouver.

Vancouver 2026 World Cup
FIFA World Cup 2026
BC Place Stadium
football
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World Cup schedule
North American World Cup
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