Downtown Vancouver drivers are about to face a major traffic shift as FIFA World Cup preparations move into full gear.
Starting Saturday, a large stretch of Pacific Boulevard near BC Place will close to regular vehicle traffic for more than two months as crews prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Officials warn commuters to expect heavy congestion, detours, and longer travel times throughout the downtown core.
Pacific Boulevard Closing Until Late July
The closure affects Pacific Boulevard between Carrall Street and Smithe Street. The shutdown begins Saturday and is expected to remain in place until late July.
City officials say the closure is necessary to support FIFA infrastructure, fan zones, security operations, and crowd management around BC Place during the tournament.
Meanwhile, some nearby lanes will temporarily switch to local access only traffic to help residents and businesses continue moving through the area.
Drivers Told to Expect Serious Delays
Traffic experts say the closure could significantly affect daily commutes into downtown Vancouver.
Drivers heading northbound on the Cambie Bridge will no longer be able to exit directly onto Pacific Boulevard eastbound. Instead, many vehicles will be redirected through Beatty Street and surrounding routes.
Transportation officials are warning commuters to leave much earlier than usual because congestion is expected to build quickly, especially during peak hours and FIFA match days.
Match Days Will Bring Even More Restrictions
The Pacific Boulevard closure is only part of the larger FIFA traffic plan.
Additional streets around BC Place and False Creek will close during Vancouver’s seven World Cup matches, scheduled between June 13 and July 7.
Granville Street will also become a temporary pedestrian zone in some sections, while other roads near the stadium may switch to restricted local access only.
Officials say emergency vehicles, including police, fire, and ambulance services, will still maintain access through restricted areas during the tournament.
Residents and Businesses Can Apply for Access Passes
People living or working inside restricted traffic zones are being encouraged to apply for Local Traffic Access passes.
The passes are designed to help residents, delivery vehicles, and businesses move through controlled areas more easily during road restrictions and match day operations.
Officials say more details about traffic management plans, parking changes, and pedestrian routes will continue rolling out in the coming weeks.
Transit Could Become the Best Option
With road closures expected to affect large parts of downtown, transportation officials say public transit will likely become the fastest way to reach FIFA events.
TransLink previously announced plans to add roughly 600 extra bus trips daily during the tournament to help move large crowds around Metro Vancouver.
Organizers expect hundreds of thousands of visitors to arrive in Vancouver during the World Cup, making this one of the city’s biggest transportation challenges since the 2010 Winter Olympics.
