Fans join march to BC Place ahead of Canada-Qatar World Cup match
Published 1:00 pm Thursday, June 18, 2026
With a Canadian flag flying proudly on a hockey stick at the front of the crowd, thousands of fans have made their way through downtown Vancouver towards Canada’s first FIFA World Cup match at BC Place.
Chants of ole ole ole ole mix with the singing of O Canada and the strains of When the Reds Go Marching In as Canadian fans show their support for the home team. The first marchers have now arrived at BC Place after a half-hour trail through downtown.
Canada faces Qatar at 3 p.m. Pacific in BC Place.
Fans began gathering near Fionn MacCool’s near by Science World around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, with the march beginning at 1 p.m.
Throngs of fans in red and white and bearing the Maple Leaf assembled to join the march, which headed along the “last mile” toward the fan zone and BC Place.
It’s the second FIFA World Cup game at BC Place and the first Canada match at the stadium.
Black Press Media has reporters on site in downtown Vancouver and at the Fan Zone at the PNE Amphitheatre. More to come.
See here for coverage of the Canada-Qatar game.
Downtown Vancouver is alive for the march to the Canada-Qatar match. #FIFAWC2026 pic.twitter.com/WOyrcAu1Qs
— Surrey Now-Leader (@SurreyNowLeader) June 18, 2026