Downtown Vancouver was a sea of red on Thursday as thousands of Team Canada fans packed the area ahead of the team’s 2nd World Cup game at BC Place.
Canada is playing Qatar starting at 3 p.m. Pacific time.
Canadian supporters group The Voyageurs staged a march along the “last mile” to the stadium. It started at 1 p.m. near Science World, where its dome has been transformed into a massive replica of a World Cup soccer ball.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he will be at BC Place to watch the game.
About 1,200 police officers have been deployed to the downtown area for the march and the game.
It’s the second of seven World Cup matches at BC Place after the stadium’s tournament debut on Saturday between Australia and Turkey.
Those without tickets to the game can catch the action at one of the watch parties in Metro Vancouver.
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Canada soccer fans march prior to a World Cup Group B soccer match, against Qatar in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Canada soccer fans march prior to a World Cup Group B soccer match, against Qatar in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Canada soccer fans march prior to a World Cup Group B soccer match, against Qatar in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Canada soccer fans march prior to a World Cup Group B soccer match, against Qatar in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Qatar fans cheer prior to the first half of a World Cup Group B soccer match against Canada, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Canada soccer fans march prior to a World Cup Group B soccer match, against Qatar in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
A young fan of Canada watches as teams arrive prior to the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Canada's Alphonso Davies walks on the pitch as his team arrives prior to the World Cup Group B soccer match against Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
More to come…
–with files from The Canadian Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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