Granville Island to Host Five-Week Free Outdoor Football Watch Party
VANCOUVER, BC — Granville Island has announced a five-week, free public watch party for the upcoming football tournament, scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19. The event will feature live broadcasts of 94 matches on a 24-foot screen, set up with outdoor seating to accommodate up to 1,000 attendees.
Located in the center of the Granville Island arts and culture hub, the watch party site will include rotating local food trucks, a craft beer garden, family play zones, and live performances. The venue will be open exclusively on match days, remaining closed on July 8, 12, 13, 16, and 17. Gate opening times will scale up as the tournament progresses, opening one hour before matches from June 11 to July 3, two hours prior from July 4 to July 11, and three hours prior from July 14 to July 19.
The festival will begin with two kick-off events on June 11 and 12, acknowledging the tournament's three host nations. June 11 will feature Mexico's opening match against South Africa, followed by South Korea versus Czechia. On June 12, the schedule includes Canada facing Bosnia and the United States playing Paraguay. Programming for both opening days will include sets by local DJs, roving performers, children's games, and face painting, with hosting duties shared by The Improv Centre, Zara Durrani, and the Squamish Nations' Khelsilem.
Special programming is scheduled for Canada Day on July 1. Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. for Group A matches, accompanied by the False Creek Ferries annual water ballet at 8:30 a.m. A formal midday ceremony will feature welcoming remarks by dignitaries, a performance of the Canadian national anthem by local busker Shawn Bullshields, and a cake cutting with baked goods provided by the Granville Island Hotel.
The event will conclude with closing parties on July 18 and 19 to coincide with the bronze medal and final matches. These final days will include special musical appearances from the Indian Summer Festival, circus arts by Soaring Stilt dance, and sets from local DJs. Official tournament merchandise will be available on-site at the Granville Island retailer MAKE.
To accommodate the expected influx of visitors, transportation options are being expanded. TransLink will increase service on the #50 Waterfront-False Creek bus route, while both False Creek Ferries and Aquabus will offer extended hours and sailings. The free Granville Island Bike Valet will operate with extended hours on match days, alongside available public bike share stations, scooter stations, and dedicated car-share parking. Furthermore, the City of Vancouver and the Yaletown Business Improvement Association have designated a tour bus zone near the Yaletown dock to facilitate car-free access across False Creek.
Concurrently, the Granville Island Public Market will operate under extended summer hours from June 4 through September 7. The market will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and on statutory holidays, and until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.