Jan 29, 2025

Introducing the British Columbia Tourism Football Club: 500 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026™

Runner jumping over gap in a wheat field near Dawson Creek.

As of January 28, 2025, we are just 500 days away from welcoming the world to the FIFA World Cup 2026™! This milestone marks the countdown to an extraordinary opportunity for British Columbia, as Vancouver prepares to shine on the global stage as one of 16 host cities for this historic event.

FIFA, Tourism, and City leaders celebrate 500 Days. Left to Right: Royce Chwin, President and CEO of Destination Vancouver; Maya Lange, Vice President of Global Marketing at Destination BC; Peter Montopoli, Chief Tournament Officer at FIFA Canada; Victor Montagliani, President of Concacaf and FIFA Vice President; Rehana Din, Chief Operations Officer of B.C. Pavilion Corporation; Chris May, General Manager at BC Place Vancouver; Jessie Adcock, Lead of FIFA World Cup 26™ Vancouver Host Committee

Introducing Our Team

In anticipation, we are thrilled to introduce the British Columbia Tourism Football Club (BC Tourism FC) and officially launch our new website: www.bctourismfc.ca.

BC Tourism FC reflects the spirit of teamwork and shared goals of it's members, including Destination BC, Destination Vancouver, Indigenous Tourism BC, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport, the BC Destination Management Organization Association (BCDMOA), and the City of Vancouver. Like a football team, every partner plays a vital role in creating a unified and impactful presence.

Our new website marks the beginning of an exciting journey. As we move closer to 2026, and more events and news become available for the BC tourism industry, we will continue to expand resources and opportunities.

Coming Soon! Toolkits and Resources: Practical tools to help you maximize the benefits of FIFA 2026.

A Strategy to Guide Our Efforts

At the heart of BC Tourism FC is a strategy designed to ensure BC’s tourism sector fully capitalizes on the opportunities FIFA 2026 brings.

This focused strategy drives our initiatives and is guided by five key pillars:

Tournament Impacts: Enhancing visitor experiences and promoting regional travel.
Marketing Promotion: Showcasing BC’s unique appeal to global audiences.
Media Relations: Building awareness and excitement through earned media.
Collaboration and Communication: Ensuring BC tourism partners are informed, aligned, and ready.
Research and Measurement: Tracking outcomes and refining efforts for maximum impact.

These pillars are supported by BC Tourism FC working groups that coordinate efforts, align messaging, and deliver resources to help the industry succeed.

Kicking Things Off...

Destination BC will attend the International Media Marketplace in Sydney (February 13/14) and London (February 17/18) kicking off the FIFA excitement by featuring the BC Tourism FC common messaging in activities.

With over 400 travel media and global companies in the audience at each event, this will be a great opportunity to raise awareness of Vancouver, British Columbia as one of host cities for FIFA 2026 and encourage travel before, during and after the tournament, throughout the province.

What Industry Can Do Now

With 500 days to go, there’s no better time to get involved:

Engage Your Audience: Participate in Vancouver’s “500 Days to Go” campaign. Share your love for football on social media. Post a photo or video with the hashtag #WeAre26 and tell us why you’re excited about the FIFA World Cup 26™ and what the beautiful game means to you.
Stay Informed: Follow BC Tourism FC and Vancouver FIFA channels for updates and resources.

Join the Journey!

Visit www.bctourismfc.ca to explore resources, stay connected, and discover how you can contribute to BC’s FIFA 2026 success.

Let’s unite as one team to make this milestone
unforgettable for BC’s tourism industry.

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