As cities across the globe prepare to host the FIFA World Cup, there’s one that stands out amongst the rest. In a new study by the Action Network, Vancouver was named the number one host city in North America, particularly for out-of-town visitors.
The study looked at five fan-focused categories to assess which cities were best equipped to host the matches and welcome a significant influx of tourists this summer: accessibility, cost, atmosphere, safety, weather, and hotel access.
Accessibility looks at the travel time to and from the stadium, and how walkable the surrounding area is. The average prices of local meals and beer were analyzed to determine an overall “cost” score, and city safety scores and expected matchday temperatures were combined to determine a “safety and weather” ranking.
Canada ranks higher than the U.S.
The two top spots went to Vancouver and Toronto, making Canada the summertime destination this year.
Vancouver earned the top spot overall, with a Fan Experience Score of 82.2 out of 100. This puts Vancouver 19 points ahead of Toronto and almost 25 points ahead of Seattle, with BC Place a standout for walkability, nearby hotel access, bar density, and expected weather.
“For travelling fans, the game itself is only 90 minutes, but everything around it can define the entire trip,” says a representative of the Action Network. “Vancouver stands out because it combines a highly walkable stadium area, strong nearby hotel access and a smoother matchday setup than any other 2026 host city in the index.”
Unsurprisingly, the city scored high for walkability — the highest in the study, in fact, at 98/100. And it doesn’t hurt that the games are already taking place in the city centre, giving fans staying downtown plenty of time to arrive at the stadium.
Vancouver also has the strongest concentration of nearby accommodation options in the study, with 3.71 hotels per square mile around BC Place.
Finally, an anticipated average temperature of 21.3º on game days makes it one of the most pleasant cities to attend a match. You don’t have to sell us on the magic of Vancouver summers!
The World Cup is nearly here, and it looks like Vancouver is in a great position to host. It’s not easy to host something as internationally recognized as the FIFA World Cup, but let’s make the most of the season!
Recent posts:
No gas, no problem: All the provincial parks you can visit from Vancouver without a car this summer
A new one-of-a-kind cruise will set sail from Vancouver to Bowen Island this summer
