By Elke Porter | WBN News Global | April 24, 2025

🚀 Vancouver 2026: The Time to Mobilize is Now

As Vancouver prepares to host more matches than any other Canadian city during FIFA World Cup 26™, one thing is clear: this is more than just a sports event—it’s a once-in-a-generation business opportunity.

From global sponsorships to hospitality, tech, tourism, and trade—Vancouver has the talent, the infrastructure, and the entrepreneurial spirit to shine on the world stage. But to unlock this potential, we must act now.

⁠"As the Senior Manager of Business Opportunities for the 2010 Olympic Games Secretariat , we began planning five years in advance—strategizing with sponsors on how they could truly leverage their Olympic involvement for long-term business impact. Fast forward to today, we’re just over a year away from hosting the FIFA World Cup, working with the same calibre of sponsors, and yet we’ve done nothing meaningful to support their business engagement. This is a missed opportunity on a global scale, and time is slipping away." Rob Arthurs, Certified Business Mechanic & International Trade Expert

That’s why a group of local leaders is proposing the formation of an independent Vancouver 2026 Business Council—a task force dedicated to helping and training local businesses connect with FIFA partners, secure contracts, and prepare for the global spotlight.

Here’s what’s being proposed:

✅ Monthly Business Roundtables – Bringing together chambers, tourism leaders, and entrepreneurs to share insights and opportunities.
✅ “Ready for FIFA” Workshops – Practical sessions on how to approach global sponsors, pitch services, and prepare for hospitality surges.
✅ B2B Supplier Showcase Night – A preview event for local startups, Indigenous makers, and food producers to meet corporate investors and international media.
✅ FIFA Supplier Network Microsite – A centralized, independent registry where businesses can sign up, get informed, and get connected.

All of this is designed to be business-led—because waiting for government bureaucracy to catch up means missing the moment.

According to the website (https://www.vancouverfwc26.ca/), for the first time, FIFA is offering the possibility for business and community leaders to engage their key stakeholders through commercial and corporate opportunities in the region they call home. Historically reserved exclusively for global and tournament partners and sponsors, the Host City Supporter program provides a truly unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for up to ten businesses to reach and engage key stakeholders where they live, work and play.

So, Vancouver: what would you prefer for your business if you are NOT one of the ten lucky Host City Supporters?

– To watch from the sidelines?
– Or to be ready, visible, and connected when the world comes knocking?

This is our “Business as Unusual 2.0” moment. In 2010, Vancouver hosted the world—and local businesses won big because they were prepared. We can do it again, with even greater impact, even if we only have a little over a year to go.

Surprisingly, Kansas City is setting the bar high as one of the FIFA World Cup 26™ host cities. With the recent leasing of 200 buses and a flurry of activity around sponsorship and community activation, KC2026 is showing what bold, visionary leadership looks like. At the heart of this momentum is also the Host City Supporter initiative—an ambitious sponsorship program designed to fund long-term economic, cultural, and social impact for the region.

“Our Host City Supporters and Champions are critical to our ability to maximize the opportunity presented by the FIFA World Cup 26™,” says KC2026 Board President Karen Daniel. Along with Integrity 9, a Kansas City-based sports sponsorship leader, driving outreach and partnerships, KC is ensuring that local businesses can engage directly with the event’s global potential. This kind of proactive, business-focused strategy showcases how a united, well-coordinated effort can transform a global sporting event into a legacy of local prosperity.

Kansas City’s Small Business Task Force recently played host to a roundtable conversation at CPKC Stadium to discuss readiness for the coming surge of potential customers to local restaurants, retail stores, transportation services, and entertainment venues.

Key ways businesses can get involved, according to this roundtable in Kansas, include:

  • Hosting events and watch parties: Creating welcoming spaces for fans to gather, whether in bars, restaurants, or even community areas.
  • Expanding hours and services: Adjusting hours to accommodate international visitors who may be on different schedules.
  • Offering culturally inclusive experiences: Businesses are encouraged to consider bilingual signage, international menu options, and culturally relevant marketing to engage a diverse audience.
  • Leveraging strategic partnerships: Local businesses can work together or partner with larger brands to maximize exposure and resources.
  • Tapping into available funding and training: The Small Business Task Force proposed a $4.4 million package to prepare businesses for the World Cup, including $500,000 for small business marketing and outreach.

🏆 The countdown to 2026 is on. Will Vancouver businesses be ready? Estimates suggest Vancouver could see around 900,000 additional visitors during the FIFA World Cup 2026, based on projections for the seven matches hosted at BC Place Stadium. Vancouver needs transportation, accommodation & trained ambassadors.

➡️ So, as a Vancouver-based business, tell us what you need or want: workshops, supplier tools, exposure events—or something we haven’t thought of yet. Let’s build this together. Email us at elke@westcoastgermanmedia or comment below.

About The FIFA World Cup 26™
The FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the biggest sporting event ever, with three Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams and 104 matches uniting an entire continent to showcase a momentous new tournament format in three countries. With more countries, cities, teams, and games, The FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the most inclusive tournament ever, engaging millions of fans across 16 unique stadiums and billions worldwide. The tournament will take place in June and July 2026. For the latest FIFA World Cup 26™ information, please visit the FIFA World Cup 26™ website.

#Vancouver 2026 #FIFA World Cup Business #Vancouver Opportunities #Global Stage Ready #Business As Unusual #Van Biz Council #FIFA 2026 Canada #Small Biz Wins #WBN News Global #Elke Porter

Connect with Elke at Westcoast German Media or on LinkedIn: Elke Porter or contact her on WhatsApp:  +1 604 828 8788

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