As the primary gateway for fans, teams, officials, and media travelling to and from the tournament, YVR will serve as the first and final impression of Vancouver and British Columbia for FIFA visitors from around the world. This comes at the same time as YVR is also preparing for summer travel, including supporting a forecasted record cruise season out of the Port of Vancouver. To ensure a resilient, reliable operation and a leading passenger experience, YVR has spent the past four years planning with a variety of partners including Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), TransLink, the Vancouver Host Committee, Destination Vancouver, RCMP, Musqueam, and many more.  

Between June 8 and July 12, passenger volumes are expected to hit 2.7 million or an average of nearly 88,000 per day, exceeding the same period in 2025, which was a record year for YVR. This represents a 5-10 per cent increase in passenger volumes over last year. The highest passenger volumes are expected in the days before and after a match.

To support the unique operational demands of the FIFA World Cup, YVR has established dedicated roles to coordinate with FIFA volunteers and event organizers, ensuring seamless movement for accredited groups as well as a smooth journey for other passengers.

A 24/7 FIFA Coordination Desk is now active, providing real‑time support for players, officials, media, and other credential travellers. In partnership with RCMP and security partners, YVR has also significantly increased security measures and staffing for the duration of the event.

In order to ensure a resilient, reliable operation to meet passenger and event demands, YVR has accelerated key innovations to increase capacity, improve flow, and enhance the overall passenger experience.

• Additional new CT screening technology has been installed at all Domestic and International CATSA screening points as well as connecting checkpoints and installation is under way at U.S. Departures as well, eliminating the need to remove large electronics and small liquids from carry‑on bags.
• YVR’s biometric and facial comparison boarding program has also been expanded to include 42 biometric‑enabled gates now in place, including 28 full e‑gates. In addition to being more convenient for travellers, this enables boarding up to 13 per cent faster and has supported an increase in on-time departures even when an aircraft arrives behind schedule.

As Vancouver gets ready to host one of the world’s biggest sporting events, YVR is prepared to welcome visitors with efficiency, safety, and the region’s signature hospitality.

Whether passengers are travelling to Vancouver for FIFA or heading to or from vacation, YVR has the following top tips to ensure the smoothest possible journey:

• Stay informed: Check the status of your flight with your airline or at yvr.ca before coming to the airport.
• Check travel documents: Ensure passports and all travel identification are valid.
• Pre-book your parking at yvr.ca/parking.
• Consider taking transit, including enhanced Canada Line service as well as taxis or rideshare. Pick up areas at International & Domestic Arrivals, Level 2.
• Enjoy the FIFA 2026 experience at YVR with fan activations, exclusive merchandise, and the ability to watch match action at venues across the terminal.

For more information on FIFA events and activations around the terminal and other important information passengers can check out yvr.ca/kickoff.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a global hub, proud to connect our local community with the world. Not only are we a gateway for travellers arriving in Vancouver for the tournament, we also provide direct access to 13 of the 16 FIFA World Cup host cities, forming a critical part of the network connecting fans to matches around the continent. 

2025 saw the highest recorded passenger numbers of our 94-year history. This summer, the growth continues, with average daily passengers from June 8 to July 12 forecasted to top 90,000, easily exceeding numbers from the same period last year.  

Preparing to welcome the world 

At YVR, preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 began in June 2022, following the announcement of host cities.  

To ensure our operations remain resilient and reliable through this busy time, YVR has assembled a cross-functional team of experts in facilitation, emergency management, baggage, maintenance, communications, and more. This team is working alongside federal agencies operating at YVR as well as external partners such as the Vancouver Host Committee to prepare for this global event. 

Past successes in managing increased passenger volumes as part of our long-standing cruise operations program, large-scale concerts, Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games are informing our approach.  

Specialized operations include:  

• Dedicated roles to support operations.  Specific roles assigned to oversee and organize our cross-functional teams and to liaise with FIFA volunteers and coordinators, who will work alongside our frontline ambassadors, Guest Experience Representatives and Green Coat volunteers to assist travellers.
• A 24/7 FIFA Coordination Desk to help streamline the travel process for players, referees, media, and more, and provide timely information and support across airport operations.
• Multilingual support. Travellers can easily get help in any language with our enhanced language line services, offering real-time translation for 170 languages.
• More flights. We’re working closely with our airline partners as well as private charters to meet the increased demand during this time, maximizing flights through intricate schedule coordination—“aviation Tetris,” as Vivian Chan, manager of airport capacity at YVR, calls it. 

Using technology to accelerate and streamline operations 

• YVR’s Digital Twin will help inform the work of our teams by providing real-time updates on upcoming and current airport flow conditions. Having insight into hundreds of airport systems at our fingertips will enable us to proactively address potential issues and deliver a seamless passenger experience.
• Faster, more advanced security screening. YVR was the first airport to install Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray equipment in our Domestic security screening facilities. Passengers at these checkpoints can leave large electronics and liquids in their bags, simplifying and speeding up the security screening process.
• Biometric boarding. Our new biometrics program will fast-track boarding for passengers on select flights, giving them the option of using facial comparison to verify their identity at the gate instead of showing their passport and boarding pass.
• A new High-Level Control (HLC) baggage system. Upgrades to our baggage systems will ensure faster and more reliable baggage delivery. 

Finally, we conducted major upgrades to our North Runway in 2025. Repaving, drainage and electrical upgrades, new lighting and more ensure the resilience of this critical piece of infrastructure.  

A first and last impression of Vancouver 

For the many fans travelling to Vancouver by air, YVR is the first and last touchpoint they will have with our city and region. We anticipate a sense of excitement and camaraderie throughout the terminal, supported by thematic graphics, photo moments, and signage. 

YVR’s award-winning sense of place unites the themes of land, sea, and sky. With natural elements woven throughout the interior design and an extensive collection of original Indigenous art, passing through the terminal provides a strong feeling of connection to the local area. 

Together, alongside Musqueam, we will harness the energy of this historic event to inspire our teams, engage our community, and create a lasting legacy. 

With just one year to go until the world’s premier international football competition lands in our city, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is gearing up to greet fans, teams, and visitors from every corner of the globe, for what promises to be an unforgettable summer of sport and celebration.

As a global gateway, YVR is committed to providing an outstanding and seamless travel experience to all travellers, including those arriving for the FIFA World Cup.

On average, we welcome approximately 80,000 travellers every day. During major events taking place in our city, we can see passenger traffic grow by 5, even 15 per cent in the days leading up to, during and after an event. Our proven expertise in managing increased passenger traffic, during experiences such as last year’s Grey Cup, the recent Taylor Swift concerts and Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, position us well to support Vancouver in hosting another world-class occasion.

Preparations for the FIFA World Cup at YVR are already well underway. We have assembled a dedicated cross-functional working group, which brings together experts in facilitation, emergency management, baggage, maintenance, communications, and more, alongside federal agencies operating at YVR and external partners such as the Vancouver Host Committee. This working group will coordinate and oversee all activities at YVR together with our airport community to ensure a safe and efficient experience for the thousands of travellers coming to Vancouver for the football matches.  

YVR is proud to play its part in this extraordinary moment for our region. Stay tuned over the next twelve months as we share more details about terminal activations, operational plans, and how we’re getting ready to welcome the world.

Let the countdown begin!