Vancouver City Hall's landmark exterior gets FIFA World Cup flair
With about three weeks to go until kickoff, the heritage Vancouver City Hall building has received a temporary big flair of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Crews began installing official FIFA-branded wraps on the tower last week, starting with the southern facade fronting West 12th Avenue and later extending to the northern facade overlooking the campus garden.
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The temporary wraps dramatically alter the appearance of the nearly 90-year-old Art Deco landmark, which has long served as one of Vancouver’s most recognizable civic buildings.
FIFA World Cup decorations at Vancouver City Hall, as seen on May 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
FIFA World Cup decorations at Vancouver City Hall, as seen on May 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
FIFA World Cup decorations at Vancouver City Hall, as seen on May 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
FIFA World Cup decorations at Vancouver City Hall, as seen on May 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
City Hall joins a growing list of landmarks and public spaces across the region being transformed ahead of the tournament.
Decorations, dressing, and wayfinding signage have steadily appeared in and around Downtown Vancouver — especially near BC Place Stadium — as well as at public transit hubs and on major streets.
This includes the installation of 2,900 FIFA-branded street banners on key roadways and corridors across the city.
The installation of FIFA World Cup street banners on Cambie Street outside Vancouver City Hall, as seen on May 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
FIFA World Cup street banners on Cambie Street outside Broadway-City Hall Station, as seen on May 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
FIFA World Cup’s decorations/wayfinding on the Georgia Viaduct for the Last Mile walking route on Pacific Boulevard to the BC Place Stadium entrance, as seen on May 19, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
Some of the most significant installations so far are at SkyTrain’s YVR Airport Station, where a multi-storey high FIFA World Cup Vancouver sign now spans the station structure’s glass exterior to greet arriving visitors immediately upon exiting Vancouver International Airport and stepping onto the Canada Line.
One of the two ships of Hullo Ferries has also received a temporary exterior makeover with official FIFA graphics.
But unquestionably the single most prominent and complex installation is the transformation of Science World’s geodesic dome into a giant soccer ball — a replica of the adidas Trionda, the official match ball of the tournament. Science World’s temporary makeover is expected to be completed in early June. The installation is aptly called “The Beautiful Dome.”
FIFA World Cup wayfinding installations at SkyTrain’s Main Street-Science World Station, as seen on May 19, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
SkyTrain’s YVR Airport Station; FIFA World Cup Vancouver decorations, as seen on May 11, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
Installation process of the FIFA World Cup’s “The Beautiful Dome” at Science World, as seen on May 20, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)
Hullo Ferries vessel with official FIFA World Cup branding. (Kenneth Chan)
Another major installation tied to the FIFA World Cup period — though not part of FIFA’s official branding program and budget — is the planned permanent VANCOUVER sign for the entrance plaza to the Canada Place pier. However, the City of Vancouver confirmed to Daily Hive Urbanized today that the permanent sign remains in the design phase. While it was originally expected to be installed this month in time for the tournament, construction has now been pushed to Fall 2026.
In the interim, a new temporary VANCOUVER sign will be installed at this waterfront site during the tournament period to welcome fans, cruise ship passengers, and other visitors. The City has not yet publicly revealed the final design for the permanent installation.
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