Meat pies, fondue and mounted TVs: Vancouver food scene bets big on World Cup fan wave

Chef Shahni Arshad, behind Vancouver catering company Supper Club YVR, is launching take-home fondue dinners for the Canada vs. Switzerland match on June 24, pairing the classic Swiss dish with Canadian touches. Photo by Samantha Garizurieta

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As Vancouver prepares to host the World Cup, restaurants, cafés and social clubs across the city are racing to get ready for a wave of international fans — adjusting menus, staffing and spaces to capture the business of match-day crowds looking for a taste of home.

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Yaletown’s Moltaqa Moroccan Café, a Michelin-recommended restaurant, is being transformed into a match-day viewing space, with television screens installed throughout the restaurant and a projector spanning the front wall.

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Just steps from B.C. Place stadium, the restaurant is bracing for a surge of fans from Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and the broader Middle East and North Africa region during matches, leaning into its role as a halal, communal-style dining spot serving guests from morning through night.

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“We mounted TVs so that the games are viewable from every angle of the restaurant,” said restaurant owner Mimo Bucko.

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El Mehdi El Mamiami, left, and Mimo Bucko, owner of the Moltaqa Moroccan Café are gearing up for international fans during the World Cup. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

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Moltaqa has hosted large sporting crowds before, including during the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, when more than 100 fans gathered to watch Morocco versus Senegal in the final.

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“Guests from countries all over North Africa were cheering for Morocco,” Bucko said. “For many of our regulars, football is their country’s sport — like hockey is for Canada.”

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Moltaqa is expecting a boost in foot traffic during the tournament, with nearby streets funnelling more pedestrians past the restaurant. It is offering reservable dining packages with kebab platters and mint tea, alongside homemade specials including lamb dishes and traditional sweets, such as baghrir, for groups seeking familiar flavours.

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“We’re really excited,” Bucko said.

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There will be seven World Cup matches at B.C. Place between June 13 and July 7, including Canada vs. Qatar on June 18, New Zealand vs. Egypt on June 21 and New Zealand vs. Belgium on June 26, bringing teams and fans from all over the world to the city.

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Sauhalia prepares food at the Moltaqa Moroccan Café. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

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“There’s a lot of excitement, but also a lot of preparation,” said Cheryl Maitland Muir, vice-president, Western Canada, at Restaurants Canada.

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Muir said the downtown core is expected to see the biggest impact, with about 350,000 spectators anticipated, but international visitors are expected to travel beyond downtown in search of unique dining experiences.

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It will be more traffic than a typical summer rush, Muir added. “Restaurants are already reviewing their operations, preparing by hiring additional staff in advance and ordering extra inventory for the period.”

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The provincial government announced a change Friday to liquor distribution rules as part of a three-year pilot that will let restaurants buy products directly from private liquor stores. Muir said the move will help operators respond to sudden changes in demand during the international sporting event.