With the dawn of 2026 we are close to the latest edition of the FIFA World Cup finals.
This time around the competition is more bloated that ever and hosting duties will be shared by Canada, Mexico and the US.
I've covered four of these tournaments in the past: in Spain, Mexico, Italy and France, but am now happy to watch a few games on TV.
Given the ongoing madness in the US, if I were planning a visit the I'd be tempted by a few games in Vancouver, British Colombia, a delightful city in a sane country that I have been fortunate enough to visit a few times.
The World Cup arrives in BC for seven matches between June 13 and July 7 with games taking place on the traditional territories of the three host First Nations: xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).
Local tourism organisations hope the event will spotlight the cultures, voices, and communities of Indigenous peoples and diverse cultures that call this part of Canada home.
Outside the stadium lies a province as immense as it is diverse: nearly four times the size of the UK and Ireland combined.
BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver is a key venue for FIFA World Cup 26 with its seven games including two featuring Canada's national team, one starring Australia and two featuring New Zealand.
Here's the full match schedule at BC Place:
Australia v Kosovo/Romania/Slovakia/Türkiye | Group D | June 13
Canada v Qatar | Group B | June 18
New Zealand v Egypt | Group G | June 21
Switzerland v Canada | Group B | June 24
New Zealand v. Belgium | Group G | June 26
Match 85 | Round of 32 | July 2
Match 96 | Round of 16 | July 7
Vancouver is a city worth several days of anyone's time, World Cup or not.
Canada v Qatar | Group B | June 18
New Zealand v Egypt | Group G | June 21
Switzerland v Canada | Group B | June 24
New Zealand v. Belgium | Group G | June 26
Match 85 | Round of 32 | July 2
Match 96 | Round of 16 | July 7
Vancouver is a city worth several days of anyone's time, World Cup or not.
It is gorgeous urban area, framed by mountains, temperate rainforest, and Pacific coastline - with the ski resort of Whistler not far away.
National Geographic recently named Vancouver among its Best of the World 2026 list.
The downtown area is home to beaches, ocean views, and 27 kilometres of forested trails.
Visual highlights include Grouse Mountain with city-to-sea views and its new Grouse Bike Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Squamish Canyon.
Whales splashing off Vancouver's coast - Orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, and bald eagles - turn the Salish Sea into their arena, Tours depart from Granville Island in Vancouver, also home to one of the best produce markets in the world (below).
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Hungry fans will be well catered for: from street food to fine dining, from historic Gastown to leafy Stanley Park.
Pan-Asian flavours rule at the Richmond Night Market, one of the largest in North America, while in the Okanagan wine valley Kelowna was recently named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, the first in Canada.
Visitors can experience Salmon n' Bannock, the only First Nations restaurant in Vancouver, showcasing local Indigenous ingredients with a modern twist.
This multi-cultural city is also home to Little Italy, an eight-block stretch along Commercial Drive in Vancouver and the Punjabi Market, a three-block area in the Sunset neighbourhood - home to one of the largest south Asian communities in Canada.
Here is a BC Fact Sheet to explore quick facts and key context about British Columbia, provided by Destination BC/Destination Vancouver.
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