Excitement is building among foreign residents in Vancouver and Toronto as the two cities prepare to welcome various national teams for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. The full schedule for the tournament, featuring 48 teams and 104 games, was disclosed in Washington D.C., with Canada set to host 13 games – seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto.
In Vancouver, Hany Elheniedy, emphasizing the passion for soccer among Egyptians, eagerly anticipates the June 21, 2026 match at B.C. Place between Egypt and New Zealand. Vancouver will host seven games, including two knockout matches, as revealed in the recently published schedule.
Elheniedy, the head of the Egyptian Canadian Cultural Society of B.C., foresees a significant impact from Egypt’s team, led by renowned player Mo Salah, within Vancouver’s Egyptian community and beyond. He has already secured tickets for Egypt’s matches in Seattle against Belgium and Iran and expects a large contingent of Egyptian fans to fill a significant portion of B.C. Place.
Meanwhile, B.C. Place will also witness Canada’s national team facing Qatar on June 18, followed by a match against Switzerland on June 24 after their opening game in Toronto against a European opponent, potentially Italy. The first game at B.C. Place will feature Australia against a European team on June 13, with New Zealand set to play Belgium on June 26.
In Toronto, German transplant Jasper Sauerland is thrilled about Germany’s clash with Ivory Coast at BMO Field on June 20. Soccer has been a vital connection to his homeland since his move to Canada in 2021, and he looks forward to the influx of German fans in Toronto during the World Cup, seeing it as a unique experience of home abroad.
Sauerland’s aspiration is to attend the match, but due to high ticket prices, he is content with watching the game at a local pub with friends. He humorously mentions converting his Canadian girlfriend into a fan of the German national team through their shared enthusiasm for the sport.
Additionally, Toronto fans can also expect to see teams from Croatia, Senegal, Ghana, and Panama in action during the tournament. The anticipation is high as both Vancouver and Toronto prepare to showcase their international spirit during this global sporting event.