41 photos that defined Vancouver's electric FIFA World Cup atmosphere
The FIFA World Cup may be decided on the field of play, but much of what made the 2026 tournament so memorable in Vancouver unfolded far beyond the walls of BC Place Stadium.
For 39 days, from June 11 to July 19, the energy spilled into Vancouver’s streets, public spaces, official festival zones and live match watch parties, and public transit hubs.
Supporters of national teams marched through the streets of Mount Pleasant, Chinatown, and Gastown, followed the “Last Mile” pedestrian route to the stadium, packed FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver at the PNE fairgrounds in Hastings Park, and transformed five blocks of the Granville Entertainment District into an electric street celebration — the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone.
- You might also like:
- After five unforgettable FIFA World Cup weeks, Downtown Vancouver's Granville Street Pedestrian Zone faces its next test
- Mexico fans turn Granville Street into Vancouver's most euphoric FIFA World Cup party yet
- How FIFA World Cup match days turn Pacific Boulevard into an outdoor extension of BC Place Stadium
- How four technicians installed FIFA World Cup's giant 'Beautiful Dome' soccer ball in Vancouver
- How TSN's stunning waterfront FIFA World Cup studio and viewing zone came together in Vancouver
- Opinion: The 2026 FIFA World Cup belongs to 16 host cities, and Vancouver is turning its share into something much bigger
- Opinion: Vancouver, enjoy the FIFA World Cup while it lasts — it's starting to feel like the 2010 Olympics
- Opinion: Vancouver must build on its FIFA World Cup momentum
- Opinion: FIFA World Cup was a reminder of BC Place Stadium's enduring and irreplaceable value
These photographs taken by Daily Hive Urbanized and Offside do not show the goals, saves, or decisive moments inside BC Place Stadium.
Instead, they capture what was happening around the tournament: the anticipation before kickoff, the crowds watching together, the volunteers helping move thousands of people through Downtown Vancouver, and the spontaneous celebrations that continued long after matches ended.
From packed viewing areas at the brand new PNE amphitheatre to fans posing with Science World’s giant Trionda soccer ball and the FIFA World Cup three-dimensional logo installation at Creekside Park, the tournament became part of the city’s everyday surroundings.
In the order the moments unfolded — from the opening day to the championship final celebrations — these 41 Daily Hive photos capture the crowds, colour, diversity, emotion, and collective energy that defined Vancouver’s experience of hosting the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup:
FIFA World Cup decorations outside the historic CPR building of Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver, as seen on June 11, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canada’s opener at the PNE amphitheatre at the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival on June 12, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
5 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Downtown Vancouver’s Granville Street Pedestrian Zone for the FIFA World Cup. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
5 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Downtown Vancouver’s Granville Street Pedestrian Zone for the FIFA World Cup. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Adidas FIFA World Cup Trionda soccer ball transformation of Science World, as seen on June 14, 2026 from the Northeast False Creek seawall. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canadian fans preparing to march to BC Place Stadium for the match against Qatar, as seen on June 18, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canadian fans march to BC Place Stadium, with the route backdropped by Science World’s transformation into the adidas Trionda match soccer ball of the FIFA World Cup, as seen on June 18, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canadian fans marching next to SkyTrain’s Main Street-Science World Station, walking along Quebec Street to BC Place Stadium on June 18, 2026, for the FIFA World Cup match between Canada and Qatar. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
The post-security fan zone for FIFA World Cup ticketholders on Pacific Boulevard outside BC Place Stadium, as seen on June 18, 2026 for the Canada vs. Qatar match. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
FIFA World Cup Fan Festival Vancouver at the PNE fairgrounds in Hastings Park, as seen on June 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Spectators lining up at SkyTrain’s Main Street-Science World Station after the FIFA World Cup’s BC Place Stadium match between Egypt and New Zealand on June 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
As seen from onboard SkyTrain: Canadian fans marching on the “Last Mile” pedestrian route to BC Place Stadium for the FIFA World Cup’s Canada vs. Switzerland match on June 24, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
As seen from onboard SkyTrain: Canadian fans marching on the “Last Mile” pedestrian route to BC Place Stadium for the FIFA World Cup’s Canada vs. Switzerland match on June 24, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Vancouver Police Department’s Mounted Unit during the march of Canadian fans to BC Place Stadium for the FIFA World Cup’s Canada vs. Switzerland match, as seen on June 24, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
New Zealand fans marching through Vancouver’s Chinatown district to reach BC Place Stadium for the match against Belgium, as seen on June 26, 2026. (Kenny Ho/Daily Hive)
The post-security fan zone for FIFA World Cup ticketholders on Pacific Boulevard outside BC Place Stadium, as seen on June 26, 2026 for the Belgium vs. New Zealand match. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Inside the amphitheatre during Canada vs. South Africa round of 32 match at the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival Vancouver on June 28, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Victory celebrations on Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver on June 28, 2026, after Canada’s historic FIFA World Cup round of 32 match win against South Africa. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Victory celebrations on Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver on June 28, 2026, after Canada’s historic FIFA World Cup round of 32 match win against South Africa. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
The temporary TSN/CTV broadcast studio and FIFA World Cup match screening zone at Vancouver’s Jack Poole Plaza, as seen on June 30, 2026 during the match between Mexico and Ecuador. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Mexico fans celebrating their team’s FIFA World Cup round of 32 match victory on Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver on June 30, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Mexico fans celebrating their team’s FIFA World Cup round of 32 match victory on Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver on June 30, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Mexico fans celebrating their team’s FIFA World Cup round of 32 match victory on Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver on June 30, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canada Day Ferry Ballet of False Creek Ferries, with the boats featuring a FIFA World Cup adidas Trionda soccer ball, as seen on July 1, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canada Day Ferry Ballet of False Creek Ferries, with the boats featuring a FIFA World Cup adidas Trionda soccer ball, as seen on July 1, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canadian fans at the amphitheatre at FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver during the match against Morocco, as seen on July 4, 2026. (Kenny Ho/Daily Hive)
Canada vs. Morocco match screening at FIFA World Cup Fan Festival Vancouver at the PNE on July 4, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canada vs. Morocco match screening at FIFA World Cup Fan Festival Vancouver at the PNE on July 4, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canada vs. Morocco match screening at FIFA World Cup Fan Festival Vancouver at the PNE on July 4, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Canada vs. Morocco match screening at FIFA World Cup Fan Festival Vancouver at the PNE on July 4, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Fans dressed as characters from Nintendo’s Super Mario during the FIFA World Cup’s Canada vs. Morocco match, watching the live match broadcast from the amphitheatre at FIFA Fan Festival on July 4, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Mexico vs. England match screening at FIFA World Cup Fan Festival Vancouver at the PNE on July 5, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Switzerland fans in Gastown marching towards BC Place Stadium for the match against Colombia, as seen on July 7, 2026. (Kenny Ho/Daily Hive)
Fans lining up to take a photo with the giant three-dimensional 2026 FIFA World Cup logo public art installation, as seen at Creekside Park near BC Place Stadium on July 7, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
FIFA World Cup decorations for the globe at International Village in Downtown Vancouver, as seen on July 7, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
FIFA World Cup volunteers guiding spectators to BC Place Stadium on July 7, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
FIFA World Cup volunteer guiding spectators to BC Place Stadium on July 7, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Colombia fans outside BC Place Stadium on July 7, 2026, just ahead of the match against Switzerland. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
An Argentina fan pops up above the crowd on someone’s shoulders at the amphitheatre at FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver during the match against England, as seen on July 15, 2026. (Kenny Ho/Daily Hive)
Fans of Spain celebrate their FIFA World Cup championship victory at Granville Street Pedestrian Zone on July 19, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Fans of Spain celebrate their FIFA World Cup championship victory at Granville Street Pedestrian Zone on July 19, 2026. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
- You might also like:
- After five unforgettable FIFA World Cup weeks, Downtown Vancouver's Granville Street Pedestrian Zone faces its next test
- Mexico fans turn Granville Street into Vancouver's most euphoric FIFA World Cup party yet
- How FIFA World Cup match days turn Pacific Boulevard into an outdoor extension of BC Place Stadium
- How four technicians installed FIFA World Cup's giant 'Beautiful Dome' soccer ball in Vancouver
- How TSN's stunning waterfront FIFA World Cup studio and viewing zone came together in Vancouver
- Opinion: The 2026 FIFA World Cup belongs to 16 host cities, and Vancouver is turning its share into something much bigger
- Opinion: Vancouver, enjoy the FIFA World Cup while it lasts — it's starting to feel like the 2010 Olympics
- Opinion: Vancouver must build on its FIFA World Cup momentum
- Opinion: FIFA World Cup was a reminder of BC Place Stadium's enduring and irreplaceable value