Vancouver hotel rooms and World Cup game tickets still available
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Vancouver hotel rooms, FIFA World Cup game tickets still available with days to go - Global News
Vancouver hotel and ticket availability
With the FIFA World Cup approaching, tickets for matches in Vancouver remain available. This includes tickets for the first of seven matches scheduled for the city. Tickets for both of Team Canada’s games in Vancouver are also still available, with prices for the first game on June 18 starting at around $700. Additionally, options to watch games on a large screen at the FIFA Fan Zone are also accessible.
Hotel occupancy in Metro Vancouver is currently around 50 per cent, which is lower than the same period last year. This trend may be influenced by major conferences opting to avoid Vancouver during the FIFA World Cup. According to Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar, some organizations are choosing to reschedule corporate events to avoid competition for airfare, hotels, and restaurant availability during the tournament.
Short-term rentals are also a factor in the current accommodation landscape. Bram Gallagher, economics and forecasting director at AirDNA, noted that while demand for short-term rentals is similar to last year, occupancy rates are lower. The number of short-term rental listings in Metro Vancouver has increased by 17 per cent in the last two months. Despite demand for short-term accommodation trailing most other host cities, Vancouver‘s nightly rates are among the highest, with average booked rates for game days and game eves up 49 per cent.
Hotel rooms outside of Vancouver are available for several hundred dollars per night, and some downtown hotel rooms are also available at comparable prices. The B.C. government anticipates that bookings will increase as the tournament progresses.
Growing street soccer culture
As Vancouver prepares for the 2026 World Cup, the city’s street soccer culture is expanding, notably through groups like Sunset Beach FC. This initiative fosters community and identity, with players from diverse backgrounds gathering at a concrete rink near the downtown waterfront. What began as a group of friends seeking a soccer outlet in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, has grown into a significant community event.
The sessions, known as Sunset Beach FC, attract around 30 players currently, but have drawn up to 100 participants. The growing demand for soccer space has led to some tension with roller hockey players who share the asphalt rink. Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic, one of the group’s founders, noted the ongoing effort to establish soccer’s place in the Canadian sports landscape. He highlighted that a positive relationship has developed over time, with both sports sharing the space.
Tagwa Moyo, co-founder of DARBY Magazine and creative force behind Sunset Beach FC, emphasized the goal of creating a free and accessible space for people to play, regardless of skill level. Moyo, who moved from Toronto, observed that Vancouver had fewer casual pickup soccer opportunities compared to Toronto, a city known for its multiculturalism and prevalent soccer culture. The initiative aims to fill this gap and foster a similar environment in Vancouver.
For individuals like Rintaro Yamanaka, an international student from Japan, Sunset Beach FC has provided a sense of belonging. Upon arriving in Vancouver with limited English, Yamanaka found community within the group, which helped him integrate into Canadian culture. He expressed surprise at the existence of such a vibrant street soccer community in Canada, noting its welcoming nature.
The group embraces players from various backgrounds, including those who have come from Ukraine, Iran, and Israel, as well as members of the African diaspora. This mirrors the diversity seen in the Canadian men’s national team, which includes first and second-generation immigrants, alongside those whose families have long resided in Canada. Jesse Marsch, manager of the Canadian men’s national team, spoke in 2025 about the multicultural aspect of Canadian soccer, emphasizing that being Canadian encompasses a diverse range of experiences.
The influence of Sunset Beach FC extends beyond the playing field. Dez Smee, a local barber, began hosting European soccer viewing parties at his shop after being inspired by the Monday sessions. His shop now features vintage soccer memorabilia, and his clientele includes players from the Vancouver Whitecaps, Canadian teams, and Sunset Beach FC regulars. Smee highlighted the authentic community fostered by Sunset Beach FC, particularly noting the increasing participation of younger players, with ages ranging from approximately 14 to 60 years old.
Players often wear a variety of kits, ranging from local MLS and Canadian Premier League clubs to international teams like South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs. Gangué-Ruzic noted that these kits often carry personal significance, representing ancestry, favorite clubs, travel experiences, or personal connections. The group’s social media presence, led by Moyo, has contributed to its growing popularity across Canada and within local communities, attracting both community members and professional players, such as Cristián Gutiérrez, who was part of Canada’s men’s national team in 2022.
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Source: globalnews.ca
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