What is the legacy of the 2026 World Cup for Vancouver?

Science World with the World Cup match ball installation ahead of the Group B match between Canada and Qatar on July 17 in Vancouver. Photo by Emilee Chinn /Getty Images

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Jessie Adcock went to bed on June 10, a tense, restless night ahead of her. Years of work were going to be unveiled and judged in the morning, and small splinters of doubt still pierced her confidence.

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As the head of the Vancouver FIFA Host Committee rolled up on the PNE the next day, a sea of green jerseys awaited her, ready to pack the grounds to watch the first game of the World Cup on the big screens at Fan Fest.

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“Oh my God, the gratitude I had for the Mexican fans that morning, I can’t even explain,” Adcock said. “You go to bed at night not knowing how it’s going to turn out. It’s not even time for the match yet — I still choke up thinking about it — all the people in Mexican jerseys lining Renfrew and Hastings, and in that moment, just all of it coming together. I’m sorry, I’m totally emotional thinking about it.”

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But the football fête is all but finished. The time for reflection on the biggest mass gathering since Vancouver hosted Expo 86 40 years ago has begun.

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Will the legacy be a $578 million budget hangover? Or will the good vibes and global visibility spark the same economic gold rush that reshaped the city and its downtown waterfront?

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Every game at B.C. Place was an announced sellout. The streets were packed with fans who joined locals from across Canada, international visitors or U.S. cities.

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While the city has rarely seemed so alive, local hotel bookings didn’t reach summer 2025 levels. Toronto’s revenue expectations fell short, and while data hasn’t been released yet, Vancouver’s likely did too.

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And while Expo 86 took an oil-stained, industrial tract of land and left us with a revitalized swath of real estate now known as Yaletown — not to mention B.C. Place, the convention centre and an iconic McBarge — there will be no physical remnants of the Cup. Nothing permanent was built: the tournament signage disappeared almost overnight and the grass inside B.C. Place has been torn up by both organic and plastic roots. The Killarney practice facility will keep its grass and lights for a year, but will revert to an artificial surface after that.

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“What we have demonstrated is our city, our region, our province, our country, we are a place that can host the world and large world events,” said Adcock. “Even though we don’t have all those visible, physical legacies, we have now shown that we have the people, the talent, the companies, the creativity, the ability to meet worldwide expectations.

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“They’re invisible legacies, but we’ve really demonstrated that we were able to meet this moment and that we have the capacity to deliver so much.”

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The Trionda-clad Science World soccer ball will also fade soon but remains one of the iconic images of the entire tournament. A close second, the aerial views of the gladiatorial gem that is B.C. Place.

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The stadium was well-received by every team that came through, both the players on the pitch and supporters in the stands. While the roof remained mysteriously and stiflingly closed for the duration of the tournament, the acoustics it provided made for a resonantly wonderful atmosphere.

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“I’m so proud,” said stadium manager Chris May. “Just to see the looks on our team’s faces when they had something pop up on social media through an algorithm that just talked about B.C. Place being amazing or the continual positive news stories. To see their faces, to hear people walking around going, ‘Did you see the videos of the fan march? Did you see that Sports Illustrated rated us No. 1? Did you see the press this morning?’ It’s just so amazing to see your team get the recognition that they deserve for the work they’ve put in.