BC Place World Cup 2026: Schedule, History, Facts, Travel Tips

Vancouver gets ready to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026. BC Place will welcome seven exciting matches during the tournament. Canada joins Mexico and the United States as co-hosts for this historic event.

The stadium sits in downtown Vancouver near False Creek. You can walk there from most hotels in the city. BC Place becomes BC Place Vancouver during the World Cup to follow FIFA naming rules.

Canada plays two important group stage matches at this venue. The team faces Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24. Vancouver also hosts a Round of 16 knockout match on July 7.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule at BC Place

BC Place hosts seven total matches. Five games happen in the group stage. Two knockout matches complete the schedule.

DATE	GROUP	MATCH	TIME (ET)
Saturday, June 13	Group D	Australia vs UEFA Playoff C Winner	12:00 AM
Thursday, June 18	Group B	Canada vs Qatar	6:00 PM
Sunday, June 21	Group G	New Zealand vs Egypt	9:00 PM
Wednesday, June 24	Group B	Switzerland vs Canada	3:00 PM
Friday, June 26	Group G	New Zealand vs Belgium	11:00 PM
Thursday, July 2	Round of 32	Group B Winner vs 3rd Place Team	11:00 PM
Tuesday, July 7	Round of 16	Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87	4:00 PM

The Saturday midnight match translates to 9:00 PM Friday for Vancouver fans. This makes it much easier for local supporters to attend. Australia opens the tournament against a European team that night.

Canada’s two matches carry huge importance. The June 18 game against Qatar happens at a perfect 6:00 PM time. The June 24 match against Switzerland could decide who advances from Group B.

New Zealand plays twice at BC Place in Group G. They face Egypt on June 21 and Belgium on June 26. Both games start late in the evening.

The July 7 Round of 16 match marks Vancouver’s final World Cup game. This knockout match happens at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.

Interesting Facts and Stadium History

BC Place opened its doors on June 19, 1983. The city built it for Expo 86, the 1986 World’s Fair. Construction cost $126 million Canadian dollars.

The Vancouver Whitecaps played the first game on June 20, 1983. They faced the Seattle Sounders in front of 60,342 fans. This soccer match kicked off the stadium’s long history.

Stadium Quick Facts:

• Opened in 1983
• Cost $126 million to build
• Holds 54,500 people
• Located at 777 Pacific Boulevard
• Home to Vancouver Whitecaps FC and BC Lions
• Owned by Province of British Columbia
• Features the world’s largest retractable cable-supported roof

The stadium started with an air-supported dome roof. This inflatable roof was the largest in the world. It stayed up for 27 years until 2010.

The biggest renovation happened between 2010 and 2011. Workers replaced the old roof with a retractable cable-supported roof. This new roof can open or close in just 20 minutes. The project cost $514 million.

The new roof is special. It spans 100 meters by 85 meters when open. No other cable-supported retractable roof in the world is larger.

The renovation added other improvements too. A giant video board hangs from the center of the roof. This scoreboard ranks as the second-largest in North America. Only AT&T Stadium in Dallas has a bigger one.

BC Place reopened on September 30, 2011. The Vancouver Whitecaps moved in as the main soccer team. The stadium switches between soccer and Canadian football setups.

Big Events at BC Place:

• 1986 Expo 86 ceremonies
• 2010 Winter Olympics ceremonies
• 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
• Annual Canada Sevens rugby tournament
• Multiple Grey Cup championships
• 2014 NHL Heritage Classic

Pope John Paul II visited in 1984. More than 60,000 people came to see him. Prince Charles and Princess Diana opened Expo 86 at the stadium in 1986.

The 2015 Women’s World Cup Final proved Vancouver could host FIFA events. The stadium handled everything perfectly.

Ed Sheeran set the all-time attendance record in 2023. His concert drew 65,061 fans. This beat every previous event.

Soccer records also fell recently. The 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal drew 53,837 fans. Vancouver Whitecaps played Inter Miami with Lionel Messi.

World Cup Upgrades:

BC Place needs improvements for the 2026 tournament. The province will spend between $149 million and $196 million. This covers stadium upgrades and tournament operations.

Workers are installing natural grass for the matches. FIFA requires grass fields for the World Cup. The turf comes from farms in the Fraser Valley.

New elevators improve accessibility. More bathrooms get added including gender-neutral facilities. Team dressing rooms receive complete renovations.

A new broadcast facility goes in for media coverage. WiFi gets upgraded throughout the building. The central video scoreboard gets replaced.

Three new hospitality spaces open for premium fans. The Field Club, Edgewater Lounge and Corner Club offer luxury experiences. These spaces stay after the World Cup ends.

All work must finish by June 30, 2025. FIFA takes control after that date.

Travel Tips for Visiting Fans

Vancouver makes it easy to reach BC Place. The city built excellent public transit. Most downtown areas sit within walking distance.

Getting to Vancouver:

Vancouver International Airport serves the city. The airport handles flights from Asia, Europe and North America. It sits about 25 minutes from downtown.

The SkyTrain Canada Line connects the airport to downtown. Trains run every few minutes. The ride takes 25 minutes and costs just a few dollars.

Reaching BC Place:

The stadium sits right in downtown Vancouver. Multiple transit options work well.

Best Ways to Get There:

• SkyTrain Expo Line to Stadium-Chinatown Station (2-minute walk)
• SkyTrain Canada Line to Yaletown-Roundhouse (10-minute walk)
• Walk from downtown hotels (10-30 minutes)
• Bus routes 17, 19, or N8
• Uber or Lyft (expect higher prices on match days)

The Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain stop sits closest. Just exit and walk two blocks. You can see the stadium from the station.

Walking works great too. Downtown Vancouver is very walkable. The waterfront path offers scenic routes to the stadium.

Skip renting a car. Parking costs too much and traffic gets bad. Transit avoids all these headaches.

Where to Stay:

Vancouver has about 13,000 hotel rooms. The city expects over 350,000 visitors during the World Cup. Book early.

Best Neighborhoods:

• Downtown Vancouver: Walk to stadium in 10-20 minutes
• Yaletown: Trendy area near the stadium
• Gastown: Historic district with charm
• Coal Harbour: Waterfront luxury hotels
• Richmond: Near airport with lower prices
• Burnaby: Suburbs with good SkyTrain access

Prices vary widely. Budget hotels normally cost $80-200 per night. World Cup demand will push these higher. Mid-range rooms run $250-400. Luxury hotels charge $350-700 or more.

Richmond offers good value. It sits near the airport with direct SkyTrain service downtown. The area has amazing Asian food too.

Fan Festival

The FIFA Fan Festival happens at Hastings Park. A brand new 10,000-seat amphitheatre opens there in 2026. The province spent $104 million building it.

Festival Features:

• Free admission
• Big screens showing all matches
• Live music and performances
• Food from around the world
• Cultural celebrations
• Easy transit access

The festival runs from June 11 through July 19. Fans without tickets can watch every game there. The amphitheatre overlooks the water and mountains.

Local Tips

Weather: June and July bring nice weather to Vancouver. Expect temperatures between 18-23°C (64-73°F). Pack layers because evenings cool down. Rain can happen even in summer. Bring a light jacket.

Money: Canada uses Canadian Dollars. Credit cards work almost everywhere. ATMs are common.

Tipping: Leave 15-20% at restaurants. Tip taxi drivers 10-15%.

Top Attractions:

• Stanley Park (huge urban park with trails)
• Granville Island Market (food and crafts)
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Gastown Steam Clock
• Canada Place waterfront
• Vancouver Lookout tower

Day Trips: Whistler mountain resort sits 90 minutes north. Victoria on Vancouver Island makes a great side trip. The drive up the Sea-to-Sky Highway shows amazing scenery.

Food: Vancouver has incredible food. Try fresh seafood and sushi. Richmond has the best Asian food in North America. The city also has great craft breweries.

Match Days: Get to the stadium early. Security lines take time. Allow at least 2-3 hours before kickoff. Walk there when you can to avoid traffic.

BC Place Contact Information

• Address: 777 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6B 4Y8, Canada
• Phone: (604) 669-2300
• Event Hours Text Line: (778) 873-3267 (FANS) – Active during events only
• Official Website: www.bcplace.com
• Email: stadium@bcpavco.com
• Accessibility Requests: accessibility@bcpavco.com
• Seating Charts: www.bcplace.com/the-stadium/stadium-map

Economic Impact

The World Cup costs money but brings benefits too. The province and city split the expenses.

Cost Breakdown:

• Stadium upgrades and operations: $149-196 million
• Total hosting costs: $483-581 million
• Provincial net cost: $100-145 million (after revenue)
• City contribution: $230 million (paid through hotel tax)

FIFA says the tournament will generate $3.8 billion across Canada. Vancouver expects over 350,000 visitors. Hotels will be completely full.

Jobs come from many areas. Construction workers do the upgrades. Tourism and hospitality hire more staff. Security and event workers get positions too.

The city improves transit for the tournament. Public spaces get upgrades. These improvements stay after the World Cup ends.

Vancouver wants to be eco-friendly. The city focuses on public transportation. Green energy gets priority.

Tourism benefits last for years. People who visit often come back. The global exposure helps the city long-term.

What Makes BC Place Special

The retractable roof makes BC Place unique. No other cable-supported roof in the world is bigger. It opens to show off Vancouver’s mountains and sky. Rain or shine, games happen comfortably.

The downtown location works perfectly. Fans walk from hotels and restaurants. The waterfront sits minutes away. Stanley Park offers pre-game activities.

Mountains surround the city. The Pacific Ocean sparkles nearby. You get urban excitement and natural beauty together. Few World Cup venues offer this combination.

Vancouver’s diversity shines during matches. People from every country live here. The city speaks over 100 languages. Every team finds supporters in the crowd.

BC Place already proved itself. The 2015 Women’s World Cup Final went smoothly. The 2010 Winter Olympics showed the city can handle huge events.

Technology impresses visitors. The giant video board shows crystal-clear replays. Over 800 WiFi points keep everyone connected. More than 1,250 screens display information throughout the building.

BC Place stands ready for June 2026. Seven matches showcase world-class soccer on Canada’s west coast. Vancouver blends natural beauty with big-city excitement for an unforgettable tournament experience.