The Game Turned Late
VANCOUVER — The elevators are in. The grass is down. The gates are up. And there's still a week's worth of work left before BC Place opens for the FIFA World Cup.
"It's like we're moving into a brand-new house," said Don Hardman, executive director of stadium and venue management for FIFA26 Canada. "We've still got some finishing touches to do, we've got some long days ahead of us this week to get ready for kick off this Saturday."
The scale is the story here; with 48 teams involved, the calendar starts doing some of the reporting.
That "new house" is actually a 43-year-old stadium that just received a $196-million upgrade. The temporary grass surface being installed over the stadium's permanent turf is exactly the kind of compromise that happens when you host a World Cup in an existing venue.
Vancouver is one of 16 cities across Canada, the United States and Mexico hosting games during the expanded 48-team event. BC Place will stage seven matches, beginning Saturday with Australia versus Turkey. Toronto is also holding matches, including Canada's first game of the tournament against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.
The Small Details Added Up
Tickets to the Vancouver games have been selling well. Hardman said the venue is nearly sold out across all seven match days, with interest continuing to climb.
The B.C. government has estimated hosting costs between $685 million and $729 million.
During a media tour Monday, journalists saw the changes: FIFA branding on windows and walls both inside and outside, new retail and VIP spaces, and World Cup-specific menu items like maple bacon poutine.
Hardman said the goal was to maximize existing stadium infrastructure while ensuring improvements would create lasting legacy benefits for the venue.
The Table Looks Different
At BC Place, a temporary grass surface was laid over the stadium's turf for the tournament. A dedicated team maintains the grass daily using UV lights, irrigation, and a vacuum ventilation system to keep it in playable condition.
"One of our goals across this tournament, 16 cities, 16 climates, was to have as similar a playing surface as possible in all of the venues and we believe we've achieved that," Hardman said.
Organizers are encouraging fans to arrive early, noting gates will open three hours before kickoff. Hardman estimates around 80% of attendees will reach the stadium via the "last mile" — a pedestrian stretch filled with entertainment, music, and retail before reaching the ticket control point across from Rogers Arena.
"Vancouver is a downtown stadium," Hardman noted. "Fans are accustomed to public transit and walking from the core. It's pedestrian-friendly with most hotels nearby, making it an easy venue to navigate."