Francophone fan zone brings international soccer action to downtown Victoria
Published 7:30 am Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Downtown Victoria is getting a new hub for international soccer fans this week as the FIFA World Cup is set to kick off.
The Victoria Francophone Society (VFS) is launching the ‘Franco Fan Zone’ at the Maison de la francophonie at 1218 Langley Street.
The venue will act as a central hub to broadcast matches featuring Francophone national teams from June 11 to July 19.
The fan zone is part of the ‘Summer of Soccer’, a broader initiative by the City of Victoria and the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) to activate the downtown core during the international tournament.
Organizers stress the space is fully inclusive and open to the general public, regardless of whether they speak French.
To accommodate all visitors, the on-site staff will be bilingual and venue signage will be printed in both languages.
“You don’t need to be fluent; if you can say Bonjour or Merci, or even if you’re just trying, you are already part of the family,” the society said. “Our goal is for every single person who walks through our doors to feel included, understood, and happy.”
The Langley Street venue officially opens to the public this weekend.
Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 13, and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 14.
Opening weekend will feature a juggling contest, face painting, a photo booth, and a licensed bar alongside the live broadcasts.
A major highlight of the month-long event will take place on June 27, intentionally aligned with Canada’s Multiculturalism Day.
Throughout the day, the venue will host cultural activities like origami alongside dance demonstrations and workshops for traditional Franco-Canadian dance, kizomba, and salsa.
“For us, sport and multiculturalism are deeply connected, and it felt important to bring those two celebrations together in a truly multidisciplinary way,” the society noted.
The broadcast schedule will evolve as the tournament progresses, but several key matchups include:
France versus Senegal; June 16 at noon
Haiti taking on Brazil; June 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Democratic Republic of the Congo against Uzbekistan; June 27 at 4:30 p.m.
Algeria versus Austria; June 27 at 7 p.m.
The society confirmed it will also broadcast the tournament semi-finals and the final match, regardless of which countries make it through.
“As long as Francophone teams are playing, we’ll be cheering them on,” the society said.
Beyond the tournament, organizers hope the fan zone builds lasting community ties and raises local awareness for the year-round programming offered by the VFS, including its new Emploi CB Francophone employment services pilot program.
RELATED: Market Square to anchor Victoria’s 6-week World Cup festival
World Cup energy hits Victoria as test event draws hundreds downtown
Langford scores $85K B.C. boost for free month-long World Cup festival