Tickets sold out. Prices on resale are insane. You are in Vancouver anyway. Here is how to have a match-day experience that might honestly be better than being inside BC Place.

1. The FIFA Fan Festival at Hastings Park

This is the big one. FIFA runs an official Fan Festival at Hastings Park (the PNE grounds) for every World Cup host city. Entry is free.

• Giant screens showing every match, not just the Vancouver ones
• Live music and entertainment between matches
• Food trucks and beer gardens
• FIFA sponsors running activations (free stuff, games, photo ops)
• Capacity: Tens of thousands. You will get in, but arrive early for the best viewing spots.

How to get there: Take the SkyTrain to Hastings Park station (Millennium Line). It is a 5-minute walk from the station.

⚠️ PRO TIP: The Fan Festival gets LOUD during goals. If you want the closest thing to stadium atmosphere without a ticket, this is it. Bring a portable chair or blanket. The viewing areas are first-come, first-served.

2. Granville Street Pedestrian Zone

The City of Vancouver is shutting down Granville Street to vehicle traffic during the World Cup and turning it into a massive outdoor fan zone.

• Outdoor screens on the street
• Bars and restaurants with patios spilling onto the road
• Street performers and fan culture
• Open to everyone, no ticket needed

Best spots: The bars between Robson and Smithe on Granville will be the epicentre. Arrive 2+ hours before a big match to grab a patio seat.

3. Best Sports Bars Near BC Place

These are the bars that will have every match on every screen, match-day drink specials, and crowds of fans:

The Pint Public House (Granville St)

• Distance from BC Place: 10-minute walk
• Multiple floors, dozens of screens, massive capacity
• Gets rowdy. In a good way.

Shark Club (West Georgia St)

• Distance from BC Place: 8-minute walk
• Classic Vancouver sports bar. Good sight lines to screens from every seat.

The Cambie (Cambie St)

• Distance from BC Place: 5-minute walk
• Divey, cheap, and packed with backpackers and locals. This is where the real atmosphere will be.

Yaletown Brewing Company

• Distance from BC Place: 7-minute walk
• Craft beer, better food than most sports bars, big screens.

Boston Pizza (Robson St)

• Distance from BC Place: 12-minute walk
• Not glamorous, but reliable. Every match on screen, family-friendly.

For the best experience at any bar, arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff. Match-day crowds fill these places fast, and most will not take reservations for game days.

4. Outdoor Screening Events

Keep an eye on:

• Jack Poole Plaza (near the convention centre) — The city may host outdoor screenings here for major matches
• Concord Pacific Place — Large open area near BC Place that often hosts event screenings
• Local breweries — Places like Brassneck, 33 Acres, and Strange Fellows often set up outdoor screens for big sporting events

Check the City of Vancouver events page and local news closer to the tournament for confirmed screenings.

5. Watch at Home (or Your Airbnb)

If you want to avoid crowds entirely:

• TSN and CTV have Canadian broadcast rights. If your Airbnb has cable, you are covered.
• TSN+ streaming works with a Canadian VPN if your accommodation does not have cable.
• Order delivery from one of the restaurants in our halal food guide or restaurant guide and make it a private viewing party.

The Honest Ranking

If you want atmosphere and energy: Fan Festival at Hastings Park > Granville Street bars > The Cambie or The Pint

If you want comfort and good food: Yaletown Brewing > Shark Club > Your Airbnb with delivery

If you are with kids or family: Fan Festival (daytime matches) > Boston Pizza > Jack Poole Plaza outdoor screenings