8 biggest soccer stars coming to Vancouver for the FIFA World Cup
With the rosters for the eight countries playing at BC Place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup now official, fans finally know which global soccer stars they’ll be able to see in Vancouver.
Vancouver won’t be hosting soccer powerhouses like Argentina, Spain, or France, but there are still several world-class players coming to the city for the five group-stage matches. There’s also a chance we could see Ronaldo in the Round of 16, should Portugal win its group and their first match in the knockout round.
Here’s a look at some notable players coming to Vancouver.
Alphonso Davies (Canada)
How could this list start with anyone other than Canada’s captain?
Alphonso Davies is no doubt the face of Canadian soccer right now. The Bayern Munich star helped put this country’s soccer program in conversation and will be a huge attraction for both of Canada’s games at BC Place.
The only question surrounding Davies is if he will be healthy enough to play.
Canada’s head coach Jesse Marsch has said that Davies may not be ready for the team’s opening game in Toronto. Will the former Whitecap be healthy enough to compete once the team arrives to Vancouver?
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Yukihito Taguchi/Imagn Images
At the peak of his career, Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne was widely considered one of the best midfielders in the world.
De Bruyne won the Premier League six times with Manchester City during his 10 seasons with the team, and led the club to its first Champions League title in 2022-23.
Even at 34 years old, De Bruyne remains one of soccer’s most gifted passers and creative players. He’ll be in Vancouver when Belgium faces New Zealand on June 26.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Few players in the world are more synonymous with goals than Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian superstar has spent the last decade rewriting the Premier League record books with Liverpool. His 191 goals puts him top five in Premier League history and cemented his place as one of the greatest African forwards ever.
Salah will look to help Egypt earn its first-ever World Cup victory when his team faces New Zealand at BC Place on June 21.
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
For years, Belgium’s attack has had a deadly one-two punch with De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
The veteran forward has 89 goals for Belgium in his career and has starred for clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan, scoring nearly 250 goals at the club level.
This will be Lukaku’s fourth FIFA World Cup appearance. He finished as the joint second-highest scorer at the 2018 tournament, earning the Bronze Boot.
He’ll be in action as Belgium takes on New Zealand on June 26.
Arda Güler (Türkiye)
A soccer fan runs onto the field to get a photo with Türkiye’s Arda Güler after a 2025 international friendly against USA. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
If you’re looking for a breakout star to watch at BC Place, keep an eye on Arda Güler.
The 21-year-old Real Madrid midfielder is already considered one of the brightest young talents in world soccer and recently earned recognition as the Champions League’s top under-23 player.
Türkiye needed the UEFA playoff round to qualify for the tournament, but this is a young squad that keeps improving, especially with players like Güler leading the charge.
Güler will take centre stage when Türkiye opens its World Cup campaign against Australia on June 13.
Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
While Salah gets most of the headlines, Omar Marmoush might be Egypt’s most exciting player to watch.
The 27-year-old is the type of forward who constantly pressures defenders, creates chaos and makes something out of nothing. He’s a player who brings a lot of energy to Egypt’s starting XI, and that will make them a tough group-stage opponent.
To put it in hockey terms, Marmoush is a forechecking menace who has the goalscoring ability of a first-line centre.
Manuel Akanji (Switzerland)
Edgar Breshchanov/Wikimedia Commons
Switzerland’s success on the international stage has long been built on being strong defensively, and Manuel Akanji deserves a lot of the credit.
The 30-year-old defender is one of Europe’s best at shutting down other teams’ best players, and his ability to read plays and intercept passes is an art.
Canada will have its hands full trying to break through Akanji and the Swiss defence when the teams meet on June 24.
Tim Payne (New Zealand)
New Zealand defender Tim Payne was largely unknown a month ago, outside of Wellington Phoenix supporters, until an Argentine influencer stumbled upon the “least-famous” player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Overnight, Payne gained more than five million Instagram followers to become the first viral star of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The fan favourite will be playing two matches at BC Place, the first on June 21 against Egypt and the second on June 26 against Belgium.