Mexico fans spark Vancouver's most euphoric FIFA World Cup party yet | Daily Hive

Mexico fans turn Granville Street into Vancouver's most euphoric FIFA World Cup party yet

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)

The Granville Street Pedestrian Zone turned into a massive street party Tuesday night, as Mexican soccer fans poured into Downtown Vancouver’s entertainment district after Mexico defeated Ecuador in the round of 32 match held in Mexico City, marking the country’s first FIFA World Cup knockout stage win in 40 years.

What followed was easily the most euphoric party yet on Granville Street during the tournament period, with tens of thousands of jubilant fans descending on the vehicle-free street of the entertainment district through the evening and continuing the revelry well into the early morning hours of Wednesday.

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Green jerseys became the primary colour of the crowd, who danced, chanted, sung, and climbed onto each other’s shoulders for a better view of the crowd. Green smoke flares were repeatedly set off.

Large Mexican flags could be seen waving above the crowd, while fans in sombreros, face paint, and other tricolour accessories filled every space. A giant inflatable Dia de los Muertos-style figure on wheels floated above the crowd, becoming one of the most visible symbols of the night’s celebration.

At one point in the evening, a dense crowd spanning a roadway area of about half a city block broke into a line dance in unison.

Half a block of Mexican fans line dancing in unison on Granville Street, one of the many surreal scenes from last night’s celebration in Downtown Vancouver. 🇲🇽📷 #FIFAWorldCup #WeAre26 #WeAreVancouver 3/4https://t.co/tRLZWjatgE pic.twitter.com/6R5LLD5mWK

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) July 1, 2026

A giant Dia de los Muertos-style figure rolled through Vancouver’s Granville Street like a spirit of the celebration, towering over Mexico fans as the party roared on. 🇲🇽📷 #FIFAWorldCup #WeAre26 #WeAreVancouver 4/4https://t.co/tRLZWjatgE pic.twitter.com/pF2axrYPx9

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) July 1, 2026

granville street vancouver fifa world cup round of 32 mexico june 30 2026

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)

The crowd also repeatedly tossed people high into the air before safely catching them on the way down. This has been a recurring sight during Granville Street’s FIFA World Cup celebrations by fans of other nations, but nothing has matched the frequency seen among Mexican fans Tuesday night, with someone being launched above the crowd nearby or farther down the street every few seconds over a very extensive period.

At times, it almost looked like palomitas — kernels of Mexican popcorn — popping above a sea of green, white, and red.

Simply put, Tuesday night’s scene was on another level.

Try counting how many people get tossed high into the air over 2 minutes, and this continued well into the night.

Mexico fans in Vancouver were beyond ecstatic after their historic FIFA World Cup win. 🇲🇽⚽️ #FIFAWorldCup #WeAre26 #WeAreVancouver 2/4https://t.co/tRLZWjatgE pic.twitter.com/Fm0zKxSVAc

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) July 1, 2026

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)

The result on the field was especially meaningful for Mexican fans. Mexico has often reached the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup, but the country had not won a knockout match since 1986.

Tuesday’s victory over Ecuador finally ended that drought, sending Mexico into the round of 16 and giving its supporters in Vancouver and around the world their first such celebration in about two generations. Mexico will play England in the next knockout match on Sunday, July 5 in Mexico City, after England defeated DR Congo in the round of 32 match today.

Granville Street has been one of Vancouver’s main gathering points throughout the tournament, particularly on match days and after major results.

The pedestrian zone has been exceptionally busy on previous nights, including after Canada matches, BC Place Stadium-held matches, and other high-profile matches, but the intensity of Tuesday night’s Mexican celebration appeared to surpass anything seen on the street so far during the FIFA World Cup period so far.

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)

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