ABOUT
Few cities in the world combine urban sophistication with natural splendour as effortlessly as Vancouver. Mountains rise dramatically to the north, the Pacific stretches westward, and between them sits a clean, cosmopolitan city with outstanding Asian cuisine, a thriving arts scene, and near-endless opportunities for outdoor adventure year-round.
Vancouver Whitecaps joined MLS in 2011, having existed in various professional forms since the 1970s, including a famous NASL era in the late 1970s. British Columbia's close cultural ties to Europe, particularly the UK, mean football has always had a strong presence here, and the city's mountainous setting makes it one of the most scenic football destinations on earth. For 2026, Vancouver hosts three matches: two Canada group stage games vs Qatar and vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, plus a round of 32. With Canada as hosts, the atmosphere at BC Place will be brilliant. With the stadium is nestled in downtown Vancouver, the city will be particularly buzzing on matchdays.
Vancouver
Getting FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets
Tickets and ticket prices have been much of the talk for the World Cup, so far. Because of the high prices for the World Cup, it means there are still tickets available for most games.
This is the biggest World Cup ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches through the tournament, running from 11th June to 19th July. Here's everything you need to know.
Official channels first.
The Last-Minute Sales Phase launched on 1st April and runs through until the end of the tournament. Unlike earlier lottery phases, tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis with instant confirmation. Your FIFA ID needs to be active and payment details saved in advance, as inventory for high-profile matches in cities like New York and Los Angeles sells out within minutes of being released. All purchases go through FIFA.com/tickets.
The official resale route.
The FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace reopened on April 2 and remains open until one hour before each match's kick-off. Availability can be very limited, with tickets appearing sporadically, so best advice is to check frequently and act quickly. All transactions and ticket transfers are handled by FIFA, keeping the tickets digital throughout. There is no limit on the mark-up on tickets, so prices can vary. However, with dynamic pricing, there's always a chance some tickets get cheaper nearer to the game.
Third-party resale — proceed with caution.
Platforms like StubHub, Viagogo, and SeatGeek operate legally in many markets but are not recognised by FIFA as valid resale channels. FIFA has made clear that tickets bought outside the official system may be invalid or cancelled. FIFA has placed no restrictions on resale pricing, which has caused significant controversy — particularly for the final, where prices are expected to be extremely high.
BC Place offers tours of one of Canada's most historically significant venues – the stadium hosted the 1986 World Exposition, was the site of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.
The Whitecaps' section of the tour covers the club's history from 1974 to the present, including the move to MLS and significant milestones. The full tour includes the locker rooms, the field, the premium areas and the media facilities.
BC Place will be a FIFA World Cup 2026 venue, and the current construction programme to build a new roof and expand capacity is ongoing.
Full tour details: bcplace.com
Address: BC Place, 777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver BC V6B 4Y8
Both Whitecaps MLS matches and 2026 World Cup matches use BC Place. Take the SkyTrain (Expo or Millennium Line) to Stadium-Chinatown station, directly adjacent to the stadium.
Capacity: 54,500 for WC (expanded).
WC matches: Canada's opening match (June 12 vs Morocco) + 5 further group-stage fixtures + Round of 32.
FAN ZONE: FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver — Hastings Park / PNE
Vancouver’s fan festival will be based at Hastings Park / PNE, with the new amphitheatre acting as the centrepiece for match viewing and entertainment. The festival will feature live match broadcasts, free performances, food, drink, music and cultural programming, with the North Shore mountains giving the whole thing a proper Vancouver backdrop. It is likely to become the main ticketless gathering point in the city.
Cost: Entry to the festival site is free, and general admission to the amphitheatre floor for match viewing is also free. Premium concerts or upgraded experiences may cost extra.
Vancouver's finest luxury hotel on Coal Harbour, with extraordinary views of the mountains, the bay and the North Shore. The restaurant and bar – Botanist – is well recommended.
A beautifully renovated boutique hotel in Gastown, Vancouver's historic cobblestoned neighbourhood, within comfortable walking distance of BC Place. Excellent value.
Located in the Yaletown neighbourhood – one of Vancouver's best areas for restaurants and bars – this hotel is a great option with a lobby bar right next to the stadium.
A well-maintained, central hostel near Robson Street in the heart of Vancouver, offering clean dorm and private rooms, a communal kitchen and good access to the city's attractions.
SEAFOOD, LOCAL PRODUCE, AND ASIAN INFLUENCE
Vancouver's food scene is one of the finest in North America, shaped by its geography and its remarkable demographic diversity. The city has the most Chinese-Canadians per capita of any city outside China itself, and the result is a Chinese food scene – particularly Cantonese and Shanghainese – that is genuinely world-class. The Richmond suburb (immediately south of the airport) is one of the finest concentrations of Chinese food in the world.
Japanese food, Korean BBQ, Indian cuisine from the Punjabi community and Vietnamese food all have strong representation. The city's overall food scene is diverse, unpretentious and focused on quality ingredients rather than culinary showmanship.
Pacific Northwest ingredients anchor the finest local cooking: wild salmon (spring, sockeye, chum, coho and pink at different times of year), Dungeness crab, spot prawns, geoduck and Pacific oysters provide extraordinary seafood. The Fraser Valley's farms supply excellent beef, dairy, vegetables and soft fruits. Okanagan Valley wines and spirits are increasingly celebrated.
Latin American Tapas is how they describe it on her Instagram. Tacos to dream about, and delicious cocktails to complement your meal.
A beautifully designed Chinatown restaurant serving modern Chinese food rooted in traditional Shanghainese flavours. Walking distance from BC Place Stadium.
Vancouver's most acclaimed fine-dining restaurant. Serving Pacific Northwest-influenced food, David Hawksworth's flagship has won every significant Canadian award. Book weeks ahead
A well-regarded gastropub in Chinatown, a short walk from BC Place, making it ideal for pre-match food and drinks. Good Canadian craft beer selection and excellent pub food.
CRAFT BEERS AND ICE HOCKEY
Vancouver's craft beer scene is one of Canada's finest and one of the best on the West Coast of North America. The Pacific Northwest brewing tradition extends naturally into BC, and Vancouver's proximity to the Yakima Valley, one of the world's most important hop-growing region, and its own excellent grain supply has supported a brewing scene of remarkable quality.
The cocktail scene has developed considerably in recent years, with Gastown and the Downtown Eastside becoming home to some of the most creative cocktail bars in Canada.
BC wine – particularly from the Okanagan Valley, around 400km east of Vancouver – is increasingly well-regarded globally. The Okanagan's dry summers and cold nights produce excellent Pinot Noir, Riesling and Syrah that are available at excellent prices across the city. Craft spirits, particularly BC whisky and gin, are also growing in quality and visibility.
A beloved neighbourhood bar on Main Street that serves as the de facto Whitecaps supporter gathering point before home matches. Great atmosphere on match days.
One of Vancouver's finest craft breweries, with a large taproom in East Vancouver serving an excellent range of beers like the Tricycle Grapefruit Radler or the Salty Scot Red Ale.
The Park Pub is Vancouver’s ultimate hub for football fans, with early opening hours, comprehensive broadcast options, and a lively fan atmosphere.
Located a short walk from the main sporting venues in Vancouver, The Pint is a classic pub with an array of beers and pub grub. Grab a pint and some wings and soak up the pre-game.
Vancouver is one of the world's most beautiful and liveable cities, consistently ranked in the top three globally. Surrounded by the Coast Mountains to the north, the Strait of Georgia to the west and the Fraser River to the south, the city's natural setting is extraordinary. With a population of 700,000 in the city and 2.5 million in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver is Canada's third-largest city and its most ethnically diverse – over half the city's residents were born outside Canada. The 2010 Winter Olympics cemented its global profile, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup will do so again.
CURRENCY: CANADIAN DOLLARS
One of the world's great urban parks, Stanley Park sits on a peninsula adjacent to downtown Vancouver with great walks and breathtaking views across Burrard Inlet to the mountains.
The Granville Island Public Market is the jewel in the island's crown with local food and handcrafted products on sale. Views out to the bay are glorious, too, so don't miss it.
The Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler is one of the world's great scenic drives. Whistler boasts a world-class ski resort in the winter, and epic mountain biking in summer.
On the UBC campus with views to the mountains and the sea, the MOA houses the finest collection of Northwest Coast First Nations art in the world.
Greetings and Basics
Van City – Vancouver's nickname
The Lower Mainland – Greater Vancouver region
The North Shore – North and West Vancouver (across Burrard Inlet)
YVR – Vancouver International Airport (used colloquially for the city)
SkyTrain – TransLink's metro/light rail network
Compass Card – the TransLink smart card
Sea-to-Sky – Highway 99 to Whistler; one of the world's great drives
Whitecaps – the MLS club; often just 'Caps
Southsiders – the main Whitecaps supporter group
Cascadia Cup – the rivalry tournament between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland
Rainforest – the type of terrain around the city (temperate rainforest)
The Mountains – always visible on the North Shore when clear
Richmond – the suburb with the world-class Chinese food scene
Gastown – Vancouver's historic neighbourhood near BC Place
Yaletown – the converted warehouse neighbourhood
Kitsilano – the beach neighbourhood west of downtown
Main Street – the hipster-independent neighbourhood strip
East Van – East Vancouver; proudly working-class identity
Okanagan – the wine-growing valley 400km east
BC Wine – the increasingly celebrated wine from the Interior
Dungeness crab – the essential Pacific Northwest seafood
Salmon – always wild Pacific salmon in Vancouver
Beavertail – the fried dough pastry available at various outdoor events
Loonie / Toonie – the $1 and $2 coins of the Canadian dollar
Eh – the stereotypically Canadian conversational pause/question tag