By Elke Porter | Westcoast German News | December 7, 2025
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The excitement was palpable at CRAFT False Creek on December 5, 2025, as Vancouver's football community gathered for the FIFA World Cup 26™ Vancouver Final Draw Watch Party. Westcoast German News was privileged to receive a media pass for this momentous occasion, gaining access to witness history unfold as the groups for the world's greatest sporting event were revealed.

The festivities kicked off at 8:00 a.m. PST with doors opening to eager fans, followed by meaningful introductions from representatives of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, who are official co-hosting partners for the Vancouver FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. The B.C. government has committed $18 million in funding, with $6 million allocated to each Nation for operational costs, legacy sports infrastructure projects, and cultural engagement initiatives.

Premier David Eby and Minister Anne Kang addressed the crowd, followed by a separate appearance from Deputy Mayor Sarah Kirby-Yung and other members of the Vancouver City Council, both enthusiastically leading attendees in rousing "Vancouver, Vancouver, Vancouver" chants while emphasizing the significance of this historic partnership in bringing World Cup matches to the city.

The morning featured an array of activities including soccer-related games, prize giveaways, and a delicious breakfast that fuelled the anticipation. As the ceremony streamed live from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., attendees watched President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum participate in the historic draw, joined by celebrity ambassadors, such as Supermodel Heidi Klum, comedian Kevin Hart, and actor Danny Ramirez who host the proceedings.

North American sporting icons Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O'Neal and Aaron Judge helped conduct Friday's 2026 World Cup draw in Washington D.C.. The quartet acted as “draw assistants” on stage and did a great job, although some were not so happy with Wayne Gretzy and his pronunciation of names like Curaçao and Macedonia.

The results delivered both excitement and intrigue. Host nation Canada found themselves in Group B alongside Switzerland, Qatar, and a European playoff winner. This presents a genuine opportunity for the Canadian squad to advance, particularly with the winnable match against Qatar scheduled for June 18 at BC Place in Vancouver and a match against Switzerland on June 24th.

Group C promises drama as Brazil, the five-time champions, face Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti. Morocco's remarkable 2022 semifinal run makes them formidable opponents for the Brazilian giants. Meanwhile, Switzerland and Germany feature prominently in separate groups, with Germany landing in Group E with Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Caribbean newcomers Curaçao, while Switzerland joins Canada in Group B.

Austria's draw into Group J sets up a fascinating encounter with defending champions Argentina, Algeria, and debutants Jordan. This group will test Austria's mettle against one of football's powerhouses.

As someone who lived in Sydney for five years, I'm particularly thrilled that Australia will play in Vancouver. The Socceroos earned their spot in Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay, and a European playoff qualifier, with matches scheduled at Seattle and BC Place.

The expanded 48-team format promises unprecedented excitement, with the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers advancing to the knockout stages. Vancouver will host multiple matches, bringing world-class football to BC Place and cementing the city's place in World Cup history.

Stay tuned to Westcoast German News for continuing coverage as we count down to June 2026.

Elke Porter at:
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