The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now clear for Canada's men's national soccer team. After Friday's highly anticipated official draw in Washington, D.C., Canadian fans know their team's first-round opponents and which cities will host the crucial matches.
Canada's Group B Opponents and Vancouver Schedule
Canada will open its tournament on home soil in Toronto, facing the winner of a European playoff scheduled for March 2026. That playoff spot will be contested by Italy, Wales, Northern Ireland, or Bosnia and Herzegovina. The possibility of a showdown with the four-time champion Italians has Toronto's sizable Italian community buzzing with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, given Italy's failure to qualify for the last two World Cups.
For Vancouver soccer fans, the draw delivered exciting fixtures at B.C. Place Stadium. Canada will play Qatar on Thursday, June 18, 2026, followed by a match against Switzerland on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. If Italy emerges from the playoff, they could also play one of their group stage games in Vancouver against either Switzerland or Qatar.
Beyond Canada's matches, Vancouver will also host two games from Group G. Australia will play in Vancouver against the winner of a playoff between Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo. The full match schedule will be confirmed on Saturday.
Local Fans React with Passion and Pride
While the draw unfolded at the Kennedy Center with stars like Wayne Gretzky and Shaquille O'Neal assisting, and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim in attendance, local supporters gathered at an official FIFA watch party at Craft Brewery in Olympic Village.
For fan Scott Steedman, the specific matchups were less important than the event itself. "I'm just going to watch for the love of the game," he said, recalling the magical atmosphere of the 1998 World Cup in France. His friend, Paolo Pietropaolo, an Italian-Canadian wearing a red Canada jersey, expressed the conflicted loyalty many will feel. "I've declared that I will be cheering for Canada... But I don't know, until the day-of what I'm actually gonna feel like. Probably very conflicted," he admitted with a grin.
New Vancouver resident Nam Lamda, who became a soccer fan after moving from India, is thrilled at the prospect of seeing her favorite player, Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, potentially play in Vancouver. "It's Kevin versus Mo Salah," she noted, referencing the potential clash if Egypt and Belgium meet in Vancouver. "And for sure, I want to support Canada because I am here. I feel proud that they're in the World Cup."
Complete Vancouver and Seattle Match Slate
The draw solidified the following schedule for B.C. Place in Vancouver:
- Friday, June 12, 2026: Australia vs. (Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)
- Thursday, June 18, 2026: Canada vs. Qatar
- Sunday, June 21, 2026: New Zealand vs. Egypt
- Wednesday, June 24, 2026: Canada vs. Switzerland
- Friday, June 26, 2026: Egypt vs. Iran
For fans willing to travel south, Seattle's Lumen Field will host:
- Monday, June 15: Iran vs. New Zealand
- Friday, June 19: U.S.A. vs. Australia
- Friday, June 26: New Zealand vs. Belgium
Early ticket information suggests Canada's potential opening match against Italy in Toronto is already the fourth-most expensive ticket of the entire 2026 tournament, underscoring the massive demand and historic nature of Canada co-hosting the world's biggest sporting event.
