When FIFA handed Canada co-hosting duties for the 2026 World Cup, there was a predictable wave of skepticism. Hockey country. Cold weather. Would anyone actually show up?
Well, the answer is yes. Thousands of people have been flooding the streets around BC Place in Vancouver ahead of Canada’s second group-stage match against Qatar. Photos from the scene show a sea of red and white jerseys, flags draped over shoulders, and supporters chanting so loud you can hear it through a livestream.
Canada opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia & Herzegovina. It wasn’t a win, but it wasn’t a loss either. And for a program that’s still building its reputation on the global stage, that first point matters. The energy in the stadium during that match — and now on the streets of Vancouver — suggests the crowd understands that.
The narrative is shifting
You don’t have to look far to find Canadians who insisted hockey would always be king. But the World Cup is a different beast. It brings in fans from outside the usual hockey demographic. Families. Kids in soccer kits. People wearing scarves for countries they’ve never visited. That’s happening right now in Vancouver, and it’s impossible to ignore.
A reporter on the ground described the scene as “borderline electric” around the stadium perimeter Friday afternoon. No formal estimate on crowd size yet, but photos show multiple city blocks closed off to traffic, packed with fans holding signs and singing.
What comes next for Canada
Qatar is up next. Canada will need more than crowd noise to get results. But the turnout matters beyond the scoreline. It signals that soccer — or football, depending on who you’re talking to — has real legs in a country long associated with frozen ponds and hockey sticks.
And for anyone still asking whether Canada deserves a spot in the conversation about world football? The streets of Vancouver are giving a pretty clear answer.
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