Francophone fan zone brings international soccer action to downtown Victoria<\/p>\n
Published 7:30 am Tuesday, June 9, 2026<\/p>\n
Downtown Victoria is getting a new hub for international soccer fans this week as the FIFA World Cup is set to kick off.<\/p>\n
The Victoria Francophone Society (VFS) is launching the \u2018Franco Fan Zone\u2019 at the Maison de la francophonie at 1218 Langley Street.<\/p>\n
The venue will act as a central hub to broadcast matches featuring Francophone national teams from June 11 to July 19.<\/p>\n
The fan zone is part of the \u2018Summer of Soccer\u2019, a broader initiative by the City of Victoria and the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) to activate the downtown core during the international tournament.<\/p>\n
Organizers stress the space is fully inclusive and open to the general public, regardless of whether they speak French.<\/p>\n
To accommodate all visitors, the on-site staff will be bilingual and venue signage will be printed in both languages.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t need to be fluent; if you can say Bonjour or Merci, or even if you\u2019re just trying, you are already part of the family,\u201d the society said. \u201cOur goal is for every single person who walks through our doors to feel included, understood, and happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Langley Street venue officially opens to the public this weekend.<\/p>\n
Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 13, and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 14.<\/p>\n
Opening weekend will feature a juggling contest, face painting, a photo booth, and a licensed bar alongside the live broadcasts.<\/p>\n
A major highlight of the month-long event will take place on June 27, intentionally aligned with Canada\u2019s Multiculturalism Day.<\/p>\n
Throughout the day, the venue will host cultural activities like origami alongside dance demonstrations and workshops for traditional Franco-Canadian dance, kizomba, and salsa.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, sport and multiculturalism are deeply connected, and it felt important to bring those two celebrations together in a truly multidisciplinary way,\u201d the society noted.<\/p>\n
The broadcast schedule will evolve as the tournament progresses, but several key matchups include:<\/p>\n
France versus Senegal; June 16 at noon
\nHaiti taking on Brazil; June 19 at 5:30 p.m.
\nDemocratic Republic of the Congo against Uzbekistan; June 27 at 4:30 p.m.
\nAlgeria versus Austria; June 27 at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
The society confirmed it will also broadcast the tournament semi-finals and the final match, regardless of which countries make it through.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as Francophone teams are playing, we\u2019ll be cheering them on,\u201d the society said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Market Square to anchor Victoria\u2019s 6-week World Cup festival<\/a><\/p>\n World Cup energy hits Victoria as test event draws hundreds downtown<\/a><\/p>\n