Ticket holders for Vancouver's World Cup games will need to do some research and find a ruler before entering B.C. Place Stadium. FIFA has a very strict list of rules for the sizes and types of bags, flags, and musical instruments that people can — and definitely cannot — take to the matches.
Security Upgrades at B.C. Place
Everything footie fans bring will be screened by a new 'weapons detection system' that FIFA is installing in B.C. Place. The OpenGate system, sold by an American company, resembles security gates that passengers walk through at airports. The provincial Crown corporation that owns the stadium, PavCo, plans to spend $600,000 to buy the gates from FIFA after the games to replace an old system that is 'nearing end-of-life.' This is expected to save taxpayers money, a spokesperson said.
'In addition to acquiring the units at approximately half the original price, B.C. Place will also realize cost savings on customized installation, freight, and training for team members, as those costs will be covered by FIFA for the tournament's initial use,' said Jenny McKenzie, spokesperson for PavCo, or the B.C. Pavilion Corporation.
On game day, World Cup fans will scan their tickets, then their bodies and bags will be screened by the new magnetometer machines, she said. It will be 'a more robust security process' than the one typically in place at the stadium, so people should plan to show up earlier than usual for the soccer games, said Dave Jones, FIFA Vancouver's head of security.
Bag Rules
Leave your regular backpacks and purses at home. Clear plastic bags, made of materials such as vinyl or PVC, are mandatory so security workers can see what's in them. The bags allowed by FIFA are smaller than the ones fans have been allowed to bring into the stadium for past events. The Vancouver organizing committee tells ticket holders to download the World Cup app onto their phones for the dimensions of permitted bags: no larger than 30 centimetres by 15 by 30 — or as tall and wide as a standard one-foot ruler, but only half as deep.
Wallets don't have to be clear, but they need to be about the size of your hand. If your bag is too big or not see-through, or contains prohibited items, you can pay $20 to check it. But the storage area has limited capacity and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Musical Instruments and Flags
The FIFA app and the local 'Know Before You Go' website do not appear to include any information about the types of drums or bells that fans can bring to cheer on their teams. Some details can be found in a FIFA 2026 'Stadium Code of Conduct' document, which is not easy to read nor obvious to find online. It says mechanical or manual musical instruments must be smaller than 12 centimetres by 12 centimetres by 12 centimetres. A Canadian passport, for example, is 12 centimetres tall.
Flags and banners also have size restrictions. They cannot exceed 2 metres by 1.5 metres, and flagpoles must be made of plastic or similar soft material, no longer than 1 metre. Vuvuzelas are strictly prohibited, as are any items that could be used as projectiles or cause disruption.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the enhanced security screening will take more time than usual. The first match at B.C. Place is scheduled for June 12, 2026.
