Thousands of soccer fans crowded into downtown Vancouver on Saturday, June 13, 2026, ahead of the city hosting its first of seven FIFA World Cup matches at B.
C. Place Stadium.
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The opening match featured a highly anticipated showdown between Australia and Turkey kicking off at 9 p. m.
PT.
City officials transformed a five-block stretch of Granville Street into a pedestrian zone to accommodate the massive influx of international visitors.
Spectators gathered at various entertainment venues, local patios, and dedicated fan hubs across Metro Vancouver to celebrate the tournament.
A group of Australian fans traveled extensively to witness the event.
They gathered outside local venues like Dublin Calling, which hosted an Australian-themed party before a planned fan march toward the stadium.
"Australians aren’t known for soccer," said Tom Walker, an Australian fan who flew from New York.
"We will be happy if we see a goal today, very very happy."
The vibrant atmosphere and local surroundings drew praise from international visitors. Many fans expressed satisfaction with the close proximity of the stadium to downtown amenities.
"I really love it here," said Vanessa Zoghbi, who accompanied Walker. "The weather is perfect.
We got to see so much just in the last 24 hours because of how close the stadium is to the city."
Supporters of the Turkish national team organized their own festivities, which included a fan parade starting from Jonathan Rogers Park in Mount Pleasant.
