Canada’s historic World Cup run helps prolong Vancouver restaurants’ business boost

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Tostenson says he thinks Saturday’s match will be “the ultimate,” noting most bars and restaurants in the city that are planning to stream the game are opening for business around 9 a.m. ahead of the 10 a.m. kickoff.

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Jane Talbot, CEO of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, says the atmosphere in Vancouver’s downtown core has been “incredibly positive,” and that “Canada’s run has only added to that momentum.”

“The days that Canada plays, whether they’re in town or they’re somewhere else, it is electric down there,” she says.

Talbot says her team is responsible for the Granville Street pedestrian zone, which spans five blocks.

She says the bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants are all doing very well but noted that every business has a different experience.

“Our pubs are really busy, our restaurants are really busy, our clubs are super busy, you know, record-breaking sales,” she says.

“But not every business is having that same level of success.”

Talbot says the silver lining is that all businesses along the strip are seeing increased foot traffic, “which is great because if they come in and they experience the store once and they like it, they’re likely to come back.”

As the tournament progresses, now in the knockout rounds, there are fewer games being played each day. Talbot says it is only natural that will slow business slightly.

“I don’t think anybody expects the level of crowds that we’ve had for the first two weeks to continue right through the end, but I do think we all expect it to remain a fun, vibrant, exciting place,” she says.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2026.

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press