BC Place is a fenced-off FIFA fortress right now
Final preparations are underway as Vancouver prepares to welcome the world.
It’s been two weeks since FIFA formally took over control of BC Place, and there is no shortage of signs that the World Cup is coming.
A great deal of care is going into the natural grass pitch that has been installed.
Outside the venue, FIFA World Cup signage is up, and so are fences.
Lots and lots of fences.
The Terry Fox statues have been fenced off. (Rob Williams/Daily Hive)
Terry Fox Plaza has been fenced off from the public, as have large portions of the Plaza of Nations. Security personnel are in place.
FIFA’s footprint extends to the Plaza of Nations. (Kenny Ho/Daily Hive)
Pacific Boulevard has also been closed off to traffic, as it will be for the duration of the tournament. Road closures will be even more significant on Vancouver’s seven match days.
That’s a lot of fences. (Kenny Ho/Daily Hive)
The “stadium footprint” encompasses a large area, as security is beefed up for the largest single-sport event in the world.
Security guards monitor one of the entrances. (Kenny Ho/Daily Hive)
The way fans will access the stadium will change during the World Cup. None of the usual downtown-side entrances off Beatty Street will be open, for instance.
Ticket holders will need to enter the stadium from the east, with organizers encouraging fans to get off at Main Street-Science World SkyTrain Station, rather than Stadium Station, to take the match-day spectator route along the False Creek waterfront to BC Place.
The route fans will need to take to access FIFA World Cup matches at BC Place. (FIFA)
“The Match Day Spectator Route is a pedestrian zone for fans to gather and enjoy the pre-match atmosphere while enjoying a vibrant and distinctly Vancouver cultural experience as they make their way to the stadium,” the official Vancouver FIFA World Cup 2026 website says.
“The route will guide spectators through the area before and after each match to their final destination, including BC Place Vancouver, nearby transport hubs and local accommodation.”
You don’t need a ticket to access much of the route, with festivities kicking off four hours before each match. Ticket holders are encouraged to head inside at least one hour before kickoff.
“On entry, visitors will be welcomed by a sea of colourful flags and a wave of sounds from assorted drummers and musicians. As fans make their way along the route, there will be opportunity to test their football skills on the mini pitch, enjoy music from world-class DJs, grab a selfie with Vancouver’s iconic BC Place Vancouver and mountains as a backdrop, and pick up some pre-game FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise.”
The fun begins June 13, when Vancouver hosts its first match between Australia and Türkiye. Other group stage matches include Canada vs. Qatar (June 18), Egypt vs. New Zealand (June 21), Canada vs. Switzerland (June 24), and Belgium vs. New Zealand (June 26).
BC Place will also host two knockout round matches, on July 2 (Round of 32) and July 7 (Round of 16). There’s a chance Canada could play in each of those matches, while Ronaldo and Portugal could end up in Vancouver on July 7.