Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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VANCOUVER — The thrills of a penalty shootout between Colombia and Switzerland, after a scoreless half-hour of extra time, let Canada wring just a little more World Cup excitement out of its hosting duties as they came to a close on Tuesday.
And in the end it was Colombia bowing out alongside Vancouver, while the Swiss booked a ticket to meet world champions Argentina in the quarterfinals.
There was heartache for the Colombian fans who had turned streets and the stadium into a sea of yellow — as well as hints of regret for the city after the last of seven matches at BC Place Stadium.
World Cup volunteer Javiera Uribe was among those reflecting on the final match in her home city.
Uribe, who was directing people outside the stadium, said she was sad Vancouver’s role was coming to an end “but obviously nothing lasts forever.”
“That’s why I’m just like taking advantage of the moment and enjoying everything,” she said.
She said her favourite memory of the tournament was the way different countries’ supporters would come together to celebrate on Granville Street in the downtown core.
“If 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.”
Fellow volunteer Fahim Mahfuz had been 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 “surreal experience,” with an Australia player kicking a ball to him.
But every match was different.
“Seven days, seven different experiences for me,” said the Vancouver resident.
It’s 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 fans staging 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 turned the Pacific National Exhibition amphitheatre into a mosh pit for big games.
Among them was Colombia fan Maria Jose Barquero, lamenting her team’s loss on Tuesday, but looking back fondly on the tournament.
“I was really grateful. It was an amazing experience … all the vibes,” said Barquero, who has lived in Vancouver for four years.
Switzerland fans had meanwhile made Vancouver their de facto home base as a result of their team’s three consecutive matches at BC Place.
Paul Wicki, a dual Swiss-Canadian citizen who lives in Vancouver, wore a Canadian jersey and a Switzerland flag as a cape to the game.
Wicki, carrying a cowbell, called it a “bit bizarre” to be able to see Switzerland play in Vancouver, while hosting had given the sport momentum in Canada.
“I wasn’t a soccer fan before and to be able to watch and see the skill that these players have and see this opportunity to be able to come and cheer in places for free and just feel the energy that people have from around the world to be able to celebrate soccer was really compelling and exciting,” he said.
Vancouver had provided the tournament with some indelible images — there was Egyptian superstar Mo Salah dancing in the streets with fans after victory over New Zealand; fans holding aloft number-8 posters to honour Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné, who suffered a broken leg in a 6-0 win over Qatar; and two massive Canadian fan parades, wreathed in red smoke.
Rob Notenboom, president of the Voyageurs Canadian fan group, said that 15 years ago, getting 200 people to one of their events would have been a “major, major deal.”
He contrasted that with the “flabbergasting” experience of their march to BC Place ahead of Team Canada’s match against Qatar on June 18, involving “thousands and thousands” of chanting supporters.
“I’ll never forget it. It was just charged with energy,” he said.
He said the Voyageurs had a “big tent mentality,” and he was OK with so many people jumping on the bandwagon.
“It’s a big bandwagon, and we’re perfectly fine with that,” he said.
Blake Dechka from Vancouver watched four games in his home city, including both Canada matches. Dechka was at the Colombia-Switzerland match with childhood soccer-playing best friend Jessy Braconnier from Manitoba.
Dechka spoke before the match of his pride in Vancouver, “the nicest city in the world.”
“It’s been pretty sick,” he said, singling out the “vibe” on Granville Street. But the highlight was watching Canada “beat the wheels off” Qatar, 6-0.
“It’s been a fun summer,” said Dechka before the match. “Shout-out Vancouver, shout-out Canada, shout-out (head coach) Jesse Marsch, shout-out Jessy Braconnier. Vamos Colombia!”
There’s an immediate legacy for the city in the form of an extension to the pedestrianization of Granville Street until the Labour Day long weekend. The province has similarly extended approval for temporary outdoor patios.
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 — 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.
Vancouverite Felix Aksentsev, 62, spent about $10,000 to attend all seven games at BC Place, as well as the U.S.-Belgium match in Seattle on Monday.
He thinks he got good value, fulfilling a “boyhood dream,” born during his childhood behind the Iron Curtain in the former Soviet Union.
“I’ve always dreamt of attending the World Cup, and finally I’m able to do it right here in Vancouver. I love it,” he said as fans poured out of BC Place.
“It’s a first love, so that’s why I’m here.”
He didn’t much care who won on Tuesday, although he said he would have liked Colombia to play Argentina.
Aksentsev said he hoped Canadian soccer continued to evolve off of the excitement and momentum of hosting.
“I’m looking forward for this event actually to spark soccer development right here in Canada. It’s very important. This is how it all starts.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2026.
— With files by Nono Shen and Ashley Joannou.
Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press
