BURST
O Canada, indeed! Canada is set to hit the pitch Thursday at 3 p.m. in Vancouver to face Qatar in the 2026 World Cup.
Thousands of fans are expected to watch from both inside B.C. Place and across the city at various watch parties and fan zones, including the FIFA Fan Festival hosted at Hastings Park.
If you’re looking to get around the region on Thursday, here’s what to expect on the roads and on transit throughout Vancouver.
I’m going to the Canada vs. Qatar game. What’s the best way to get to B.C. Place?
Fans attending the game at B.C. Place can enter the stadium from the east where a single entry point has been implemented for ticket holders.
A pedestrian-only, fenced-off corridor along False Creek between Science World and B.C. Place dubbed the Last Mile will double as a fan zone and the only way to access the stadium’s entrance.
Both ticket holders and non-ticket holders are able to access the festivities inside the Last Mile. The best way to access B.C. Place is to take transit to Main Street-Science World SkyTrain station and walk through the Last Mile from there.
I want to attend the pre-game march with the Voyageaurs. Where does that happen and when does it start?
The Voyageurs are Canada’s national fan group, supporting the men’s and women’s soccer teams.
On Thursday, the group will gather on Switchmen Street, which is one block north of East 1st Avenue and perpendicular to Quebec Street, at 12:30 p.m. before the march departs at 1 p.m.
From there, the group will head along Quebec Street and along the Last Mile. Be sure to wear red!
I’m going to the FIFA Fan Festival. What’s the best way to get to Hastings Park?
To visit the FIFA Fan Festival, organizers recommend taking public transit, walking, biking, taking a taxi, ride-for-hire or carpooling.
For the duration of the World Cup, TransLink has set up the 11 Fan Festival Express bus. The route will run continuously between 29th Avenue SkyTrain station (Expo Line), Renfrew SkyTrain station (Millennium Line) and the Fan Festival site, with extra service during busy periods.
Other TransLink routes servicing Hastings Park — including the R5 Hastings RapidBus, the 14, 28, 130 and 222 — will also be available with more frequent service.
For more information about the Fan Festival, check out our feature on what to know before you go .
I’m going to the Granville Street World Cup Fan Zone. What’s the best way to get downtown?
A five-block stretch of Granville Street will be converted into a pedestrian zone for the duration of the tournament, with expanded patios, public art and entertainment, vendors, and more.
To take in the atmosphere on Granville Street, hop on the SkyTrain and disembark at Granville SkyTrain station. You can also get off at Burrard SkyTrain station and walk over a few blocks.
I’m going to the Canada Soccer House in North Vancouver. What’s the best way to get to the Shipyards?
Canada Soccer House is the official fan venue organized by Canada Soccer, located in the Shipyards in North Vancouver.
On June 18, the venue will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. but you’d best get there earlier as the venue hit its estimated 3,800 max capacity on June 16 when fans packed the venue to watch the Iran vs. New Zealand match on the big screen.
The best way to get there from downtown Vancouver is to hop on the SeaBus for a leisurely cruise across the water and over to Lonsdale Quay where you can hop off and walk to the Shipyards venue.
Will there be extra TransLink bus service on match day? What about SkyTrains and SeaBus?
TransLink has said there will be approximately 600 additional bus trips each day of the tournament, including added service to popular venues around town.
Routes that will see more frequent service include the R5, the 14, 19 and 23 in the busiest parts of downtown Vancouver.
On match days, such as when Canada plays Qatar on June 18, the SkyTrain will offer more frequent trains both before and after the match, arriving every 2 to 2.5 minutes.
For more information about TransLink service during the World Cup, visit their website .
What road closures will be in place on June 18?
Buckle up. Match day traffic closures will be tricky in and around the B.C. Place stadium district. In addition to the stadium district, a five-block stretch of Granville Street will also be closed for a pedestrian-only celebration fan zone for the duration of the World Cup.
Check the map below or visit our full listing of traffic closures here .
I have no ticket to the Canada vs. Qatar game. Where can I watch the game?
Looking for a place to cheer alongside other fans but don’t have a ticket to the game? Check out our extensive list of 16 free World Cup watch parties around the Metro Vancouver area.
As it’s Team Canada on the pitch with a happy hour start time, you can be sure that almost any restaurant or pub in the city will have the game on a screen.