If you aren’t much of a sports fan and not particularly interested in getting stuck in traffic, you may want to avoid downtown Vancouver on certain days this summer.
The 2026 World Cup is coming to Vancouver, in case you haven’t been paying attention, and the city is set to host seven matches at B.C. Place throughout June and July.
To manage match-day crowds, a number of traffic closures and detours have been put in place, along with a pedestrian-only corridor along False Creek between Science World and B.C. Place dubbed the Last Mile that will serve as the only entry point into the stadium for ticket holders.
The Last Mile will also double as a celebration fan zone for those without tickets but who want to enjoy the atmosphere, opening four hours before kick off on match days.
A five-block stretch of Granville Street will also be converted into a pedestrian zone for the duration of the tournament, with expanded patios, public art and entertainment, vendors, and more.
Here’s when and where road closures will be in place during the tournament period and on match days.
What roads will be closed or impacted during the Vancouver World Cup period?
Granville Street will be fully closed to motor traffic between Davie and Georgia streets from June 8 to July 26 to create a pedestrian-only zone with live entertainment, vendors and more. Buses routes that usually rely on Granville will be rerouted to Seymour or Howe Street. You can find out more about the event here.
Granville Street.
The following closures will be in effect from May 23 to late July for the duration of the FIFA Vancouver tournament period:
• Pacific Boulevard: For the duration of the tournament, from May 23 through late July, Pacific Boulevard will be closed to traffic between the Cambie Bridge off-ramp to Carrall. A section of Pacific Boulevard between Cambie and Smithe will temporarily allow two-way traffic.
• Smithe Mews: A stretch of Smithe Mews from Expo Boulevard to the waterfront will be available to local traffic only from May 23 until late July.
Here’s a map of FIFA Vancouver’s tournament period closures, in effect from May 23 to late July.
What roads will be closed or impacted during Vancouver World Cup match days?
The following roads will be fully closed on match days. Scroll down for the full list of match days:
• Pacific Boulevard and Quebec Street: A stretch of Pacific Boulevard and Quebec Street from Cambie Street all the way to Central Street near Science World will be fully closed.
• Expo Boulevard: Expo from Smithe to Main Street will be fully closed.
• Beatty Street: Beatty from Smithe to just before West Georgia will be fully closed.
• Robson Street: Robson from Cambie to Beatty will be fully closed.
• Griffiths Way and Pat Quinn Way: Both Griffiths Way and Pat Quinn Way will be fully closed from Expo to Pacific boulevards.
• Carrall Street: Carrall from Keefer to the waterfront will be fully closed.
• Keefer Street: Keefer from Carrall to Columbia will be fully closed.
• East Georgia Street and Terminal Avenue from Quebec / Columbia to Main Street.
• Science World parking lots will be inaccessible on match days.
The following roads will be open to local traffic only on match days:
• Cambie Street between Smithe and West Georgia.
• Marinaside Crescent between Davie and Smithe Street.
• Nelson Street between Expo and Marinaside.
• Keefer Place from Abbot to Carrall.
• Abbott Street from West Pender to Expo.
• Taylor Street from West Pender to Keefer.
• Milross Avenue and National Avenue from Quebec to Main Street.
• Quebec Street from Central to East 2nd Avenue.
Here’s a map of FIFA Vancouver’s match day traffic closures.
Will the SkyTrain and TransLink buses be affected Vancouver World Cup match days?
Short answer: yes. TransLink has said it will deliver about 600 more bus trips per day during the tournament, including additional service to and from the FIFA Fan Festival happening at Hastings Park in east Vancouver.
Additional SkyTrain service will also be available before and after matches, with extended late-night service on June 13, June 26 and July 2 when matches are scheduled for later in the evening.
As well, pedestrian access from Stadium-Chinatown to B.C. Place will not be available on local match days. All ticket holders attending games should disembark at Main Street-Science World station and walk the Last Mile to access B.C. Place.
For full details of TransLink service changes, visit their website.
When are World Cup matches happening in Vancouver?
For those hoping to avoid World Cup chaos, you’ll want to avoid downtown Vancouver’s stadium district on the following dates:
Saturday, June 13: Australia vs. Türkiye
Last Mile fan zone opens at 5 p.m.; kick off at 9 p.m.
Thursday, June 18: Canada vs. Qatar
Last Mile fan zone opens at 11 a.m.; kick off at 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 21: New Zealand vs. Egypt
Last Mile fan zone opens at 2 p.m.; kick off at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24: Switzerland vs. Canada
Last Mile fan zone opens at 8 a.m.; kick off at 12 p.m.
Friday, June 26: New Zealand vs. Belgium
Last Mile fan zone opens at 4 p.m.; kick off at 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 2: TBD
Last Mile fan zone opens at 4 p.m.; kick off at 8 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7: TBD
Last Mile fan zone opens at 9 a.m.; kick off at 1 p.m.
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