Vancouver welcomes World Cup fans with watch parties and fan festival
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Where to catch kick-off: World Cup watch parties around Vancouver - Vancouver Is Awesome
World Cup excitement builds in Vancouver
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially commenced, bringing a surge of excitement to Vancouver as fans gather for watch parties and the opening of the PNE FIFA Fan Festival. Hundreds of people lined up on Thursday to enter the Fan Festival, with the queue extending along Renfrew Street. Some dedicated fans arrived as early as 6 a.m. to secure a prime viewing spot for the action.
The Fan Festival offers multiple screens for viewing matches, along with food and drink vendors, and family-oriented events. Attendees also have the option to purchase premium tickets to watch games under the Freedom Mobile Arch Amphitheatre. Entry to the main site of the festival is free. Security is a priority, with additional on-site personnel and collaboration between the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Police Department, and provincial partners to ensure a safe environment for all.
While the atmosphere at Vancouver’s 10,000-person amphitheatre at the FIFA fan zone on the city’s eastern edge appeared to be below capacity for the opening match, other venues across the city saw significant turnout. The festival will feature live screenings of men’s World Cup matches throughout the venue, alongside musical performances, various food and drink options, soccer-themed activities, and other attractions.
Mexican fans celebrate opening match
Mexican fans in Vancouver were particularly enthusiastic for the opening game, with many gathering in bars and fan zones. Sergio Esparza, a 43-year-old from Chihuahua, Mexico, and co-owner of Ronos Construction, noted that many of his approximately 50 workers, predominantly Mexican, took Thursday off to watch the match. Esparza and his business partner, Jose Novales, were even turned away from the crowded Baja Racing Mexican sports bar in central Vancouver after arriving 10 minutes past kickoff.
Despite the initial disappointment, the Modelo beers were flowing at Baja Racing, with fans of all ages painting their faces and some wearing the tricolour flag. Others arrived directly from work sites, still in their steel-toed boots and high-visibility vests. Esparza, who wore a black jersey with his surname, mentioned that flying home to watch a game in Mexico was too costly, and even his compatriots in Mexico found it difficult to afford attending a match.
The scene was quieter in the area labelled as a “Mexican Barrio” on the northern edge of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. At La Casita, one of Vancouver’s oldest Mexican restaurants, Alejandro Frias was the sole patron at the bar during the noon kickoff. Dressed in a white charra shirt and a cherry-red traditional mono bow tie, Frias held a mini flag and sipped a michelada, expressing pride in his Mexican-Canadian heritage. Frias, who works for the Canadian Navy, noted that his friends were working but highlighted the Mexican ability to make friends anywhere.
In Toronto, thousands of Mexican fans also spread out across various bars and fan zones. The atmosphere in both cities was described as subdued as they prepare to host their own matches on Friday and Saturday. In Toronto, the FIFA fan zone was evacuated due to lightning, but over 300 people, many in Mexico’s green jerseys, braved the rain at Nathan Phillips Square to watch their country defeat South Africa 2-0 at the end of the first half.
At Cafe Diplomatico in Toronto’s Little Italy, Andrea Schapira, 24, wore a friend’s spare Mexico jersey to watch the match. Schapira, whose home country Italy did not qualify for the World Cup, found a natural choice in cheering for Mexico alongside his friend Diego Delamora from Mexico City. The Mexican side’s opening goal in the ninth minute prompted many of the 110 people in the cafe to celebrate. Carla Aguilar, 33, a Toronto resident with Mexican and Ecuadorian heritage, also watched at Cafe Diplomatico, stating that Mexicans enjoy celebrating.
Upcoming matches and activities
Team Canada is scheduled to play its first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in Toronto. The first game to be held in Vancouver will feature Australia versus Türkiye on Saturday. The Fan Festival will continue to offer a range of activities for soccer enthusiasts.
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Source: theglobeandmail.com
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