Vancouver's first FIFA World Cup match on June 13, 2026, set a new public transit ridership record for Metro Vancouver, according to TransLink. Preliminary data shows 580,000 boardings on that Saturday, the highest since the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The record was driven by the match between Canada and Morocco at BC Place, which drew tens of thousands of fans. TransLink added extra service on SkyTrain, Canada Line, and bus routes to accommodate the surge.
TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond said the system handled the demand smoothly, with no major disruptions. The previous Saturday record was 560,000 boardings during the 2010 Olympics.
TransLink noted that final ridership numbers will be confirmed in the coming weeks, but the preliminary data indicates a successful integration of major event transit planning.
