Tuesday March 10, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
A Canada Celebrates FIFA World Cup 2026 test event will be hosted by the BC Legislative Assembly.
The big bash is set for Tuesday March 31 on the lawns of BC’s parliament buildings. It’s a free community event, which comes one day after students are back in class from spring break.
Today the provincial government said the event will be a “soccer fan’s dream” when FIFA’s countrywide celebration program called Canada Celebrates gets a test run in Victoria.
The series of free-to-the-public, one-day community celebrations is set to travel Canada from coast to coast in the leadup to and during the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament. The games are less than 100 days away now.
FIFA26 CAN is FIFA’s subsidiary in Canada.
Activities, music and food:
Canada Celebrates will bring soccer fans together for live match viewings, soccer-themed activities, cultural programming, music, food and more, all designed to engage fans and communities outside of Toronto and Vancouver which are Canada’s host cities for the FIFA World Cup.
The March 31 test event on the legislature grounds is strategically timed to stream two of the four European playoff final showdowns (games scheduled for 11:45 am and 2 pm) for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as well as the Canada’s Men’s National Team friendly against Tunisia (at 4:30 pm).
The test event offers a preview of elements of the Canada Celebrates experience ahead of the full programming that will be rolled out when Canada Celebrates officially kicks off in June 2026.
Matching scarves:
In matching FIFA World Cup 2026 Vancouver scarves, government and Opposition members — including Premier David Eby and Opposition Interim Leader Trevor Halford — gathered on the steps of the legislature earlier this week to showcase their enthusiasm.
“There is so much momentum and goodwill surrounding this event,” said Raj Chouhan, Speaker of the legislative assembly. “We are honoured to host it. Members have really come together in support of this, not to mention the community.”
Full programming for the FIFA World Cup celebrations will be rolled out when Canada Celebrates officially kicks-off in June 2026.
Part of tourism boost:
“British Columbians are huge soccer fans, and we are absolutely thrilled to be hosting seven of the FIFA World Cup games in beautiful Vancouver,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
Minister Kang recently released the Province’s Tourism Sector Action Plan which identifies five access points for tourists coming to BC (Vancouver, Greater Victoria, Whistler, Richmond and Kelowna).
The Ministry for Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, the City of Victoria and the Greater Victoria Tourism Commission have partnered to bring Canada Celebrates to Victoria.
First test market:
“Now, we have the privilege of hosting the first Canada Celebrates fan experience here in Victoria. It’s wonderful,” said Kang in a news release today.
Mandeep Dhaliwal, Opposition critic for sport, said: “I love soccer and I love the energy that the FIFA World Cup is bringing to our province. FIFA’s Canada Celebrates community stops are great – good for tourism, good for business and good for the soul.”
===== RELATED:
- Tourism Sector Action Plan to boost visitor economy, strengthen communities (March 4, 2026)
- BC marks 100 days to FIFA World Cup 2026 (March 4, 2026)
- NEWS SECTIONS: SPORTS | TOURISM | 43rd BC PARLIAMENT | GOVERNMENT OF BC | FIFA WORLD CUP 2026