Switzerland fans march toward B.C. Place before a World Cup Group B soccer match against Canada, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Timothy Matwey
Colombia fans march ahead of a World Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Switzerland, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Colombia fans march ahead of a World Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Switzerland, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Colombia supporters march through the streets of Vancouver towards BC Place before a World Cup round of 16 match between Colombia and Switzerland, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Timothy Matwey
A Colombia fan cheers ahead of a World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Colombia and Switzerland, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Switzerland fans march toward B.C. Place before a World Cup Group B soccer match against Canada, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Timothy Matwey
TM
Colombia fans march ahead of a World Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Switzerland, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
EC
Colombia fans march ahead of a World Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Switzerland, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
EC
Colombia supporters march through the streets of Vancouver towards BC Place before a World Cup round of 16 match between Colombia and Switzerland, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Timothy Matwey
TM
A Colombia fan cheers ahead of a World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Colombia and Switzerland, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
VANCOUVER - Columbia fans have turned Vancouver's streets into a sea of yellow, red and blue, as BC Place Stadium hosts its seventh and final World Cup match today.
They're giving a final hurrah in Canada for an event that has galvanized diaspora communities and drew hundreds of thousands of fans from across the country and the globe.
The round-of-16 match that's now underway between Switzerland and Colombia comes less than four weeks since Vancouver got its first taste of the world's biggest sporting event, when Australia fans swamped the downtown core for a match against Turkey.
Since then, the city has been swept up in World Cup euphoria, with 好色tv fans staging two huge marches to the stadium and crowds flooding Granville Street on game days.
The FIFA Fan Festival in East Vancouver also emerged as one of the best places in Canada to watch the action outside a stadium, heaving with the energy of fans who have turned the PNE amphitheatre into a mosh pit for big games.
Switzerland fans have meanwhile made Vancouver their de facto home base as a result of their team's three consecutive matches at BC Place.
But they were greatly outnumbered, both on the streets and in the stadium, where the Colombian anthem became an ear-splitting sing-along.聽
World Cup volunteers were among those reflecting on today鈥檚 last match at BC Place, including Javiera Uribe, who was directing people outside the stadium.聽
She said she was sad Vancouver鈥檚 role in the tournament was coming to an end 鈥渂ut obviously nothing lasts forever.鈥
鈥淭hat's why I'm just like taking advantage of the moment and enjoying everything,鈥 said the Vancouver resident.
She said her favourite memory was the way different countries鈥 supporters would come together to celebrate on Granville Street in the downtown core.
鈥淚f they play in the morning and one team wins, and then in the evening another team wins, and in Granville, everyone gets together, everyone's celebrating, just sharing the cultures between everyone. I think that's the most memorable part here.鈥
Fellow volunteer Fahim Mahfuz was in BC Place Stadium for all seven of its matches. He said being pitch-side for the first match between Turkey and Australia was a 鈥渟urreal experience,鈥 with an Australia player kicking a ball to him.
But every match was different.
鈥淪even days, seven different experiences for me,鈥 said the Vancouver resident.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said on Monday that the World Cup "will help attract future visitors, future investment, future events and future business opportunities."
"The exposure our city has received can't be replicated through traditional marketing or tourism campaigns, and our focus is making sure Vancouver captures both the immediate benefits and the long-term opportunities that come from hosting the world's biggest sporting event."
While Sim and others have championed the tournament's benefits, it could be months or years before the economic impact can be properly assessed 鈥 including whether Vancouver's hosting costs of up to $729 million represented good value.
Those costs are being borne by the city, the province and the federal government, which is kicking in $100 million in security funding and $116 million from Sport Canada.
The B.C. government has said a final total for B.C.'s World Cup costs isn't expected until spring of 2027.聽
This report by 好色tvwas first published July 7, 2026.