2026 is the year of football in British Columbia.
Of course, 2025 should not be undersold in terms of the remarkable milestones the beautiful game enjoyed in the province. But with the world arriving to celebrate ‘Footy’ later this year, 2026 is inarguably the sport’s moment to shine. And with well-considered legacy in mind, keep shining for years to come.
This opportunity to grow from where soccer lives today in the ecosystem of communities across BC, to even greater impact, is made better and more sustainable by decades of hard work, passion, and love of both the game and community already invested.
Kudos and gratitude to all those that have given of their volunteerism, goodwill, and community building all of which has enabled the proliferation of clubs, pitches, and coach and player aspirations.
And so with the table so well set, the question is how as a consumer can you take part in the crescendo and this historic moment of hosting the world in 2026? Especially if you want a genuine experience whereby you avoid breaking the bank and hopefully come home with memories more intimate to the game than lotteries lost, long lines, parking predicaments, and distant views of the action.
Don’t get me wrong, visits to viewing parties and soaking up the fandom on downtown streets will be electric and not to be missed. And if you are one of the unicorns that has managed to secure World Cup tickets, soak it in and enjoy. But either way, at some point you owe yourself a seat closer to the action mixed in to your version of 'the year of football' to get a full sense of what live football can be.
Fortunately, Greater Vancouver has a number of live football options inclusive of the Canadian Premier League which is going into its eighth season. This professional league is the top tier of Canadian men’s football and like the Northern Super League for women, it enables young Canadian players to graduate their play into a professional environment and win all-important playing minutes against top-tier talent. Vancouver FC, based at Willoughby Park Stadium (Langley Events Centre) on 200th St. in Langley, is one of two BC-based teams in the league.
So, given this wealth of ‘beautiful game’ options in Beautiful British Columbia, why not make attendance of one of these Canadian owned, made and played teams' home games a priority as part of building out your plans for 2026, 'the year of football' in BC?
And in case you need more convincing, this brings me to the top ten reasons to join us at Willoughby Park for a home game or two with Vancouver FC this year.
1. Future Stars: We are where the future stars go from a glimmer in the eye to real playing minutes on a professional field. This is where you’ll see the next Alphonso Davies playing proper minutes in a highly competitive league that shows its mettle against MLS squads in the Canadian Championship each and every year. As a stellar example, in 2025 Vancouver FC fell to the Vancouver Whitecaps by only 4–2 in a hard-fought final that saw the Whitecaps’ high pedigree bench fully called into action with Canadian U21 Thierno Bah having both scored and assisted for VFC in a compelling contest.
2. Family: We are a true family gathering place. With a stadium that is well suited to a social, mobile, and relaxed fan experience, Willoughby Park is perfect for the family that are seeking a full afternoon experience that appeals to all from grandparents to grandchildren. And as evidenced by this past year’s trend, the ratio of families as part of our fan base on any given match day is easily 50% or more. With most of the seating allocated as general admission, this makes it easy to get up, move around, and connect with friends as the afternoon unfolds making it truly a family friendly setting.
3. Youth: The Canadian Premier League is all about growing Canadian talent both on and off the field. And in the stands, the story is no different with a game day that welcomes young fans. As one of the few live sport offerings in the Vancouver area that offers youth pricing, Vancouver FC also has great group rates and packaging to make it easy for a club looking for a place to host their next team pizza party. And once the final whistle blows, the Vancouver FC squad is generous with their time and sharpies for fans hoping for a signature or selfie. Indeed, with direct access to field level, Willoughby Park brings the game and the players up close to fans of any ticket type.
4. Truly Affordable (parking included!): VFC has put in place pricing for 'the year of football' in BC that prioritizes accessibility for families and new footy fans. At $20.26 for an adult general admission ticket ($12.00 for youth) and with free parking to boot, it is hard to beat the value of an outing with VFC as a family entertainment option. Downtown $65 gets you parking and maybe a burger for one with tickets to the game still an added cost to come. Meanhwile, at Willoughby Park it gets you 2+ hours of live football for a family of four, parking included.
5. A Gathering Place: I feel like we should play the theme song to Cheers when our doors open for each match, but the real reason to attend I am putting at number five is the fenceline. I know that sounds a strange thing to list in a top ten, but the fenceline around the pitch at Willoughby Park is where some of the best footy watching and socializing takes place. Long sections of the fence are available for your elbow to lean on without impeding the view of seats behind, making for an unparalleled combination of close proximity viewing and chatting with friends old and new.
6. Local Pride: The players on the field, coaching staff, front office crew, ownership, and team partners all combine to make a wonderful collage of Greater Vancouver and the Valley. Not to mention a testimonial of what the region can achieve. From local craft beer, to bumping into the parent who coached your kid, to the announcer calling in a new substitute coming onto the pitch who hails from East Vancouver, you’ll be sure to get a bout of 604 goosebumps at some point as the 90+ minutes unfolds.
7. Fun: It’s a football match and don’t be fooled into thinking we’re not out for a W and the points that come with it. But there’s never not a healthy dose of unencumbered fun to be had. From face painting to dirty sodas, from Crazy P to live music in the southwest plaza, and from on-point espresso coffee from an Artigiano on wheels to a regular rotation of local entertainers — heck, we even handed out hundreds of slices of birthday cake on Sp'óq'es’ (our mascot) birthday last year — there’s always fun to be had no matter the score line.
8. The Commodore of Live Football: Many of us have been fortunate enough to see a big music act in a big stadium and it can be admittedly a breathtaking experience. But the experience that truly stays with you is the act you saw at the Commodore (or some similarly intimate venue) where the ambience, sound, and intimacy is so much more. Football at Willoughby Park is that to the live sport experience. You’re not left to lip read what the coach said to the ref on the giant screen because you can hear it firsthand. Because let’s be honest, tackles are more fun to watch when you can hear the impact and the player trash talk that ensues.
9. Friday Night Lights: Football viewing at an outdoor stadium under the lights is something that needs to be experienced. It’s as though you’ve entered a movie set depicting what live sport should be. The lights create an ethereal halo in the evening sky and the sights and sounds of the game seem to fill it like an all-you-can-eat buffet of sensory delights. Kudos to the Langley Events Centre for the new lighting package installed — it is phenomenal, especially when a goal goes in and the lights, linked to the music, take the celebratory beat to the next level.
10. The View: The eye candy battling out for this final reason to attend a VFC match are three heavyweights. Firstly, there is the calibre of play on the pitch. It is attacking football with the risk of a miscue playing second fiddle to ambition and drive. This is dynamic play and perpetual motion. Secondly, there is the actual view. Willoughby Park Stadium is on 200th St in Langley and no matter where you are seated anywhere in the stadium, your view of the pitch is top class — not to mention the backdrop of coastal mountains with the beautiful and light-catching Golden Ears playing a starring role. And third is our new arrival for the 2026 season — a permanent giant screen to help augment the viewing experience is expected to arrive in the coming months. This piece along with an improved built-in audio system for the stadium will bring the viewing experience to the next level.