your guide to metro vancouver's three main gathering spots for world cup fans
6 minute read
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soccer mania has erupted in vancouver with team canada’s pride-pumping 6-0 win over qatar and endless sunshine luring thousands of fans to outdoor viewing spaces.
restaurants and bars with screens showing world cup games have been packed. the granville island watch party, with a seven-metre viewing screen and room for 1,000 people, has been popular.
across metro vancouver, other cities are embracing the games. surrey is broadcasting 100 games in three soccer fan zone locations: downtown civic plaza, the cloverdale agriplex, and the south surrey athletic park. delta is running soccer fan zones at the north delta recreation centre and the ladner village pop-up park. and richmond is hosting watch parties at various locations, culminating with a closing event july 19 at aberdeen neighbourhood park.
but there are three major gathering spots that have attracted huge crowds, each offering different experiences for eager, jersey-wearing footie fanatics.
follow our coverage: canada vs switzerland live: the fans, the march, the match
people celebrate during canada’s 6-0 win over qatar at the fifa fan festival in the new pne amphitheatre on june 18.
nick procaylo
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fan fest
venue: pne grounds, 2901 e. hastings st.
hours: free entry on june 24. opens 11 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. times vary by day, so visit the posted schedule at vancouverfwc26.ca for daily updates.
screens: the main event location is the new freedom mobile arch amphitheatre with a trio of large led screens. the park stage is the second large viewing zone with both main stage screen and rear screen set back for improved viewing while standing. there are a total of 11 other live broadcast locations at the pne. a full map is available at vancouverfwc26.ca.
seating: the amphitheatre has capacity for 10,000, with tiered and ground seating on the upper grassy area.
arrival time: free seating is on a first come, first served basis, so arrive early for prime sight lines. given the interest in the canada vs. switzerland game will be, the site could fill up.
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food: food ranges includes amphitheatre concessions, food trucks and booths serving a wide variety of options across the site. limited table seating is provided at shared picnic tables, as well as some bench and ground seating.
entertainment: the amphitheatre will feature los duendes at 2:10 p.m. and bob moses at 8:10 p.m. the park stage also showcases djs and bands. there is a selection of interactive games, exhibits and displays across the site.
vibe: the amphitheatre features a party atmosphere with spontaneous chants coming from the standing room space on the floor, up to folks dancing in the tiers. the park stage’s outdoor scene lacks shade but has a welcome water misting zone and some nearby shaded areas should you overheat. the crowd is packed in tight, frequently moving and very lively. smaller children will have trouble seeing the broadcast.
those looking for a more chilled environment can check out the many smaller viewing screens across the site. the grassy knoll at the neighbourhood is comfortable with a great selection of leading restaurant food outlets from vij, nuba and others.
fans react to referees calling a penalty kick for canada at canada house at the shipyards during the canada vs. qatar world cup 2026 game on june 18, 2026.
lori culbert / png
canada soccer house
venue: the shipyard commons at lonsdale quay, north vancouver
hours: based on the first and last match of the day. on june 24, it is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
screens: the main screen is massive at nine metres wide, and is easily viewable from the back of the 20,000-square-foot commons area. there is an additional smaller screen nearby, where the volume and crowds are a bit less boisterous.
seating: you will be standing, likely shoulder to shoulder with total strangers, during the busy games, as there are no seats inside the commons area near the largest screen. however, there are some tables and chairs near the much-smaller screen nearby.
arrival time: last week, for the canada vs qatar game, fans arriving about an hour before the match were getting through the security checkpoints with time to spare to find a viewing spot. but by opening kickoff, the shipyards had reached its 5,000-person capacity and lines had formed at the gates. demand for this venue may even be higher for canada’s game against switzerland.
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food: the shipyards area of lonsdale quay is home to many restaurants and coffee shops. in addition, there are pop-up food and beer vendors. you can bring in a small water bottle, and there is a central fountain for refilling.
entertainment: this former shipbuilding area is right on the ocean, with gorgeous views of downtown vancouver and stanley park. the shipyards is decorated with historic shipbuilding equipment as a nod to its industrial past. the city of north vancouver says canada soccer house will include other types of entertainment as well.
vibe: during the canada vs qatar game, the packed crowd had a very family-friendly vibe. young children climbed on an old mining truck, as their parents and grandparents watched the game. the atmosphere was electric, with most people wearing patriotic red clothing and costumes. strangers high-fived in the crowd each time canada scored, and spontaneous rounds of olé olé olé were sung.
people walk along granville street during the world cup. brent toderian photo
granville street
venue: granville street pedestrian zone
hours: a five-block stretch of the downtown granville strip, from west georgia to davie street, is closed to car and bus traffic every day until the world cup final on july 19.
screens: there are no big public screens, but dozens of bars and restaurants have set up temporary patios on the street with outdoor tvs, where you can sit and watch the game with food and drink.
seating: in addition to the expanded bar and restaurant patios, there is some additional public seating, but you may not be able to see a tv from the public seating.
food: there are dozens of restaurants along granville. if you’re looking for takeout, there are fast food chains like popeye’s and jollibee, or plenty of pizza-by-slice and donair joints. if you want to sit to watch the game, either indoors or on one of the outdoor patios, there are bars like good co., shamrock storehouse, donnellan’s and dublin calling serving pub food, and lively latin american restaurants like union latinos and the mexican.
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entertainment: there is live entertainment on granville from 1 to 7 p.m. every thursday, friday, saturday and sunday, excluding days when there is a match at b.c. place. there are some large public art installations, like a big soccer ball, providing good photo opportunities. there are also pop-up markets on certain days.
vibe: the crowds on granville can get pretty rowdy and boozy, especially in the evening or if canada is playing. during the last two matches at b.c. place, there were some families with kids on granville, but overall the scene is probably more suited to adults who want to party. during the canada-qatar game, granville was extremely packed, so it could be difficult to keep track of a young child in that kind of crowd. the crowd was less dense during sunday’s egypt-new zealand game at b.c. place, but it was still quite lively, with plenty of egyptian fans celebrating into the night hours.
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