Socceroos Open World Cup Campaign In Canada

The Socceroos will play their opening game of the 2026 World Cup in Vancouver.

The game against the still to be determined winner of UEFA play-off C will kick off at 2pm (AEST) on June 14.

In their second game the Socceroos will take on co-hosts USA in Seattle with a 5am kick-off (AEST) on June 20. Their final group match will come against Paraguay in San Francisco at 12pm (AEST) on June 26.

With almost 180,000 Aussie travellers visiting British Columbia in the year to date and more than 13.5 million Aussies tuning in to watch matches during the 2022 World Cup, British Columbia is gearing up for an influx of Aussie football fans into the city to watch the matches.

“Once you’ve experienced the culture, creativity and culinary delights of Vancouver, Australian visitors should head further into British Columbia to experience the wealth of diverse experiences that the province has to offer,” said Maya Lange, Vice President, Global Marketing for Super, Natural British Columbia.

“Whether it’s grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest, canyoning in Britannia Creek, road tripping to the Rockies, or encountering the distinct stories, languages and traditions of our more than 200 First Nations.”

In addition to the more than 380,000 football fans expected to attend the live matches at BC Place Vancouver, the city is also preparing an epic FIFA Fan Zone where there’ll be plenty to see and do to take part in the world’s most popular sport.

Australian football presenter Claudio Fabiano described Vancouver as a “perfect mix” of Sydney and Melbourne.

“It’s a harbour city with an active lifestyle like Sydney, but with a grid-like layout and vibrant bars & cafes along laneways like Melbourne.

“The stadium is in the middle of the city and next to the water, so you just know the surrounding bars and pubs will be rocking during that summer month and on rest days you can be out in the serenity of wider BC on hikes, bike rides and possibly even swimming and skiing in the same day which is madness!

“I also think that with the amount of Aussies in Whistler alone, we’d pack out BC Place and make it feel like a home match for our Socceroos!”

www.bctourismfc.com