By Elke Porter | WBN News World Sports | September 7, 2025
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Vancouver is preparing to welcome the world as one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and local businesses have an unprecedented opportunity to benefit from this global spectacle. The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) has compiled essential resources and insights that are so valuable for the business community, they deserve widespread attention.

From June 13 to July 7, 2026, BC Place will host seven FIFA World Cup matches, bringing an estimated one million additional out-of-province visitors to Vancouver between 2026 and 2031. According to joint estimates from the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, and PavCo, this influx will generate over $1 billion in additional visitor spending and support more than 18,000 jobs.

What This Means for Downtown Businesses

Downtown Vancouver will experience a significant surge in foot traffic, particularly on game days when 50,000+ fans will attend each match. The area falls within a 2-kilometer "Controlled Area" on match days and the day before, designed to maintain clear access for emergency services, teams, and fans while managing commercial activity.

Importantly, businesses within this controlled zone are not required to close – quite the opposite. They're encouraged to remain open and welcoming to capitalize on the increased activity.

Navigating FIFA Regulations

One of the most crucial aspects for businesses is understanding what they can and cannot do during the tournament. FIFA has strict intellectual property rules, but there are opportunities within the guidelines. Businesses can decorate with country flags, national colours, and generic soccer imagery without requiring special licenses. However, using FIFA logos, slogans, or implying official affiliation requires proper licensing.

For restaurants and bars, showing matches as part of normal operations requires no special FIFA license, provided they follow intellectual property guidelines. Larger events with over 1,000 people, sponsors, or ticket sales require a FIFA Public Viewing License.

Official Events and Parallel Activities

While the official FIFA Fan Festival will take place at the PNE at Hastings Park, the City of Vancouver has developed a Parallel Event Strategy allowing annual events to continue during the tournament period where feasible, as long as they don't suggest FIFA association.

This information comes from the Downtown Vancouver BIA, but given its immense value for the entire business community, it's worth sharing widely. Vancouver businesses have less than two years to prepare for what could be the economic opportunity of a lifetime.

For complete resources, including the BC Tourism FC Playbook, Community Engagement guidelines, and licensing information, or visit the full guide at: https://www.dtvan.ca/fifa-2026/

Contact Elke Porter at:
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TAGS: #FIFA 2026 #Vancouver Business #World Cup 2026 #BC Place #Vancouver Tourism #Downtown Vancouver #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter

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