21+ Places We Will Be Hitting Up for the World Cup in Vancouver
Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press
Vancouver is about to become one of the most exciting places in the world to watch soccer, and apparently, we are not the only ones who think so. Ahead of the tournament, Vancouver was ranked the #1 FIFA World Cup host city for fan experience by Action Network, earning high marks for walkability, hotel access, bar and restaurant density, weather, and the downtown location of BC Place.
Between official fan festivals, national watch parties, neighbourhood takeovers, cultural exhibitions, hotel pop-ups, and one very big stadium, the World Cup will not just be happening here, it will be felt all over the city.
From waterfront fan zones and mountain-top screenings to country houses, cultural pop-ups, patios, and proper pub chaos, these are 16 places and experiences we will be hitting up for the World Cup in Vancouver.
1. Fairmont Pacific Rim Patio Watch Party for Canada vs. Bosnia
On Friday, June 12, the Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Pac Rim Sports Patio is hosting one of the most elevated hospitality moments of the opening week. Built around Canada’s first match, the event features pop-ups from Botanist, The Keefer Bar, June, and Meo (meaning you know we will be there), bringing a very Vancouver food-and-drink lens to a major Canada matchday. It’s polished, patio-driven, and exactly the kind of one-off experience that makes the tournament feel bigger than the game itself.
2. Australia House and The Cat Empire at Commodore Ballroom
This is another one close to our hearts. On Saturday, June 13, Australia House at the Commodore Ballroom pairs World Cup viewing with a proper cultural takeover. With Australia vs. Türkiye on the screen (not to mention steps away at BC Place) and The Cat Empire performing later that night, this will be a full Australian night out. For our resident Aussies, friends of Aussies, and anyone who likes their soccer with a concert attached, this will be a standout night.
3. FIFA Fan Festival at the PNE Amphitheatre
Running from June 11 to July 19, the official FIFA Fan Festival at the PNE Amphitheatre is going to be one of the biggest gathering places in the city throughout the tournament. Finished just in time to launch for the World Cup, it combines massive TVs, live music, performances, food, entertainment, and a full festival atmosphere built around the world’s biggest sporting event. You’ll see us there a couple of times as well as thousands without a stadium ticket, looking for the next-best thing.
4. Uber Eats Canada Soccer House at The Shipyards
From June 11 to July 19, North Vancouver’s Uber Eats Canada Soccer House at The Shipyards will become a major hub for Canadian soccer energy. With big screens, food trucks, entertainment, athlete appearances, retail pop-ups, and a waterfront setting, we especially like this one as a daytime or all-ages option, with the Shipyards giving the whole thing a very Vancouver backdrop.
5. Canada House by Coca-Cola at Shark Club
From June 11 to July 19, Shark Club is becoming Canada House by Coca-Cola, steps from BC Place. It’s an obvious pre-match, post-match, and ticketless-matchday destination for Canadian supporters downtown. With big screens, stadium-adjacent energy, and plenty of red and white, we’ll be keeping this one in mind for pre-game and post-game energy when the area around BC Place is at its loudest.
6. Dublin Calling: the home of the England, Scotland and German Houses
Dublin Calling is shaping up as one of the city’s key supporters’ hubs (at least one of our team will be there a heck of a lot) throughout the tournament, with England, Scotland, and Germany fans all finding a home under one roof. This is where you go for the ticketed events that offer the full pub-style international football experience: jerseys, chants, matchday nerves, and strangers becoming best friends by the final whistle.
7. Petrichor Social: Cheer on Les Bleus at this French Farmhouse restaurant in Gastown
For France supporters, Petrichor Social feels like a natural fit throughout the group stage and beyond. The room already leans into memorable French food, hospitality, and atmosphere, making it a more stylish way to watch Les Bleus than the standard sports-bar setup. We are looking forward to that South of France energy which will feel just right for a World Cup summer.
8. Pourhouse: For the epic Country Cocktail Knockout
One we will keep coming back to! Throughout the tournament, Pourhouse is hosting one of the smartest hospitality concepts of the World Cup: country-inspired cocktails, each removed from the menu once that nation is eliminated. It turns the drama of the bracket into a living menu, giving guests a reason to check back in as the tournament unfolds. Simple, memorable, and exactly the kind of playful idea that makes World Cup season more fun.
9. Brazil Fan Fest at The Pearl
What’s a World Cup without enjoying the football and culture of Brazil? Each edition the record World Cup holders brings a different kind of electricity, and The Pearl on Granville is set to become the place to feel it. With Brazil Fan Fest programming listed for June 13, June 19, and June 24, this is one of the clearest country-specific watch parties we have on the radar. Expect colour, rhythm, volume, and a room that knows exactly what it is watching.
10. Country-Themed Tasting Menus at the Mackenzie Room
Vancouver institution the Mackenzie Room is doing a unique set of country themed tasting menus throughout the World Cup: Australia, Turkey, Belgium, Qatar, Canada, and New Zealand. We can’t wait to see what Chef Reeve has planned for each of these special menus that will provide the most immersive culinary complement to the games.
11. Mexico Games in the Mexican Barrio
The newly coined Mexican Barrio gives Mexico supporters something more meaningful than a single watch party: a walkable cultural home base. Built around 19 Mexican-owned restaurants, shops, and gathering places in and around Gastown and Hastings Crossing, this could become one of the city’s most vibrant World Cup pockets. Hint: One of our favourites, El Cielito Lindo just installed a massive TV to complement their soccer themed decor and menu of authentic Mexican food and awesome cocktails.
12. Anywhere on Soccer-Mad Commercial Drive
It doesn’t officially start on Italian Day (June 14th) but of course it kind of does....We’ll be hitting up Commercial Drive as one of Vancouver’s most soccer-mad stretches, and the World Cup will only amplify that. Italian cafes, Greek tavernas, Turkish bakeries, patios, pizza spots, and community bars all sit close together, which makes The Drive perfect for wandering until you find the right crowd. Start with an espresso, follow the loudest cheers, and let the match choose the room.
13. Rise x Shine Playhouse
Don’t miss the Rise x Shine Playhouse which feels like one of the more complete soccer culture experiences on the calendar. Turning the energy of a combine into something bigger (live activations, music, competition, and community, all lightly powered through the RISExSHINE app), the Playhouse is truly about soccer engagement. Activating on select local game days: June 18 for Canada vs. Qatar, June 24 for Canada vs. Switzerland, June 26 for New Zealand vs. Belgium, and July 7 for a Round of 16 match. Pre-game, expect an all-ages atmosphere with performance coaches, artists, skill challenges, gamified zones, and brand experiences; post-game, it shifts into a 19+ party where football culture, music, and matchday energy carry on past the final whistle. See you there!
14. Natural Watch Party on Grouse Mountain
This one is a gem. One of the most uniquely Vancouver World Cup moments on the calendar. Destination Canada’s Natural Watch Party on Grouse Mountain brings the England vs Panama match (June 27th) to the side of a mountain, overlooking the city. Stadiums are one thing; watch parties at the pub are another, but watching the World Cup from thousands of feet in the sky at North Vancouver’s iconic mountain is quite literally peak.
15. Bay’Score at The Westin Bayshore
The Westin Bayshore’s Bay’Score pop-up is bringing a hotel-style World Cup experience to the waterfront, with big screens, food, drinks, and a more polished indoor setup than the average watch party. It feels like a strong fit for fans like us who want the energy of the tournament without committing to the full festival crush. Add in the Bayshore setting, and it becomes an easy matchday option for anyone like us looking to turn a game into a proper summer outing.
16. Science World’s Soccer & Technology Exhibition
Running from May 15 to September 7, Science World’s Soccer & Technology exhibition offers a different way to get into the spirit of the game. We’re looking forward to hitting up the exhibition which explores the innovation behind soccer, from broadcasting and data to refereeing, staging, and player performance. It’s a great daytime hit for families, visitors, and anyone who wants to nerd out on the beautiful game before heading somewhere to watch the matches.
17. Watching a Match at BC Place
And finally, the big one. Watching a World Cup match inside BC Place is the kind of Vancouver sports experience that will be talked about for decades. With Vancouver hosting matches on June 13, June 18, June 21, June 24, June 26, July 2, and July 7, including Canada group-stage games and knockout-round action, this is the closest thing to stepping directly into the heart of the tournament. We hope to see you there!
18. these bonus ‘Those in the know’ faves which we’ll be hitting up more than once
We are also excited to hit up matches at a few of our favourite Those in The Know spots that will be playing all the matches along with great drink and food specials:
Sal y Limon
P.S. A Few More Casual Watch Parties and Soccer Celebrations
Beyond the major fan zones and beer gardens (Creekside Park at Science World), national houses, and one-off hospitality moments, there are also plenty of more casual ways to get into the World Cup spirit around Metro Vancouver.Granville Island is also hosting free outdoor watch parties with live entertainment and family-friendly& activities, making it a great low-barrier option for an easy afternoon match. Granville Street has become a pedestrian only corridor with temporary patio licenses creating a European-esque energy around our favourite pubs, bars, and restaurants. Cadillac Fairview is adding soccer activations and screenings across select shopping centres.Elsewhere, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet’s Great Soccer Socia is bringing outdoor screenings, games, family-friendly activities, and food specials to Richmond, while Richmond Celebrates Soccer will turn the tournament into a broader citywide celebration with free watch parties, music, cultural programming, and community events. Public viewing parties are also popping up across the region, with Tri-Cities, New West, Surrey, and Burnaby all giving fans ways to gather closer to home without needing to head downtown for every match.
In other words: even if you are not heading to BC Place, a national house, or one of the city’s bigger-ticket events, there will be plenty of places to stumble into the World Cup all summer long.
