The head of the Restaurant and Foodservice Association of BC says Canada’s historic run to the World Cup has led to a boom for many Vancouver businesses as the team’s trip to the Round of 16 extends their tour by at least six more days.
Ian Tostenson says that when a World Cup match is played, bars, pubs and restaurants in the city are seeing more customers and an increase in sales.
He compared it to a car “accelerating on a freeway” and when Canada is on the field, it moves at “warped speed.”
The Canadian team has had a historic run at this World Cup, beating South Africa 1-0 in Los Angeles on Sunday and advancing to the round of 16 when they face Morocco in Houston this Saturday.
Tostenson says he thinks Saturday’s game will be “the last,” noting that most of the bars and restaurants in the city that are planning to broadcast the game are opening for business around 9 a.m. before the 10 a.m. kickoff.
Jane Talbot, CEO of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, says the atmosphere in downtown Vancouver has been “incredibly positive” and that “Canada’s direction has only added to that momentum.”
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“The days Canada plays, whether they’re in town or somewhere else, it’s electric down there,” she says.
Talbot says her team is responsible for the Granville Street pedestrian zone, which spans five blocks.
She says bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants are doing very well, but noted that every business has a different experience.
“Our pubs are really busy, our restaurants are really busy, our clubs are super busy, you know, record sales,” she says.
“But not every business has the same level of success.”
Talbot says the silver lining is that all the businesses along the strip are seeing increased foot traffic, “which is great because if they come in and experience the store once and they like it, they’re likely to come back.”
As the tournament progresses, now in the knockout rounds, there are fewer games played each day. Talbot says it’s natural for business to slow down a bit.
“I don’t think anyone expects the level of crowds we’ve had for the first couple of weeks to continue to the end, but I think we all expect it to remain a fun, vibrant and exciting place,” she says.
&copies 2026 The Canadian Press
