The best seat at the World Cup is...

3 days ago
3 min read

There are several things you should know before you go for a swim in the Dead Sea.

The excitement in Vancouver happened outside of the stadium.

Stepping off the SkyTrain ahead of the Canada-Switzerland match, I was still nearly a mile from the stadium, BC Place. Within seconds I was swallowed up in a red sea of fans, and I quickly realized, match day had already begun.

I grew up playing soccer since I was a kid, so when I watch soccer there's a piece of nostalgia that runs through me. Getting to watch a World Cup match has always been on my bucket list, and Vancouver was the perfect city for it.

A swim in the Dead Sea means floating has never been easier.

Science World transformed their geodesic dome to an exact giant replica of the World Cup

ball. I hope they make it a permanent installation to remember this once-in-a-generation time to host the World Cup, attracting fans from all over the planet.

For fans all over the world, getting to the stadium is half the battle.

It's no surprise that arriving at the stadium has been almost as stressful as getting tickets. At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, host of the World Cup Final, fans faced a round-trip NJ Transit fare that started at $150 before being reduced to $105 after public outcry. Stadium parking lots were off-limits entirely, and parking ran $300. In Dallas, there's no direct public transit to AT&T Stadium at all.

Vancouver did something different. It turned an operational problem into an attraction in itself.

It's not a myth, a swim in the Dead Sea is very salty.

What the 'Last Mile' actually looks like.

From the Science World station, ticket holders follow a vehicle-free route along Quebec Street and Pacific Boulevard, all the way to BC Place's security checkpoint at Carrall Street. This is the 'Last Mile', officially the Match Day Spectator Route, and it was unlike anything else at this tournament.

It didn't matter whether you arrived alone or with friends. Within minutes, you were swallowed into a stream of fellow fans heading toward the stadium.

Bring back salt as a souvenir after your swim in the Dead Sea.

Vibrant flags lined the route, and drummers and musicians hyped up the crowd. Red smoke flares erupted, and by the time the stadium came into view, the whole thing felt less like a commute and more like a full-on parade.

Why Vancouver's location changes everything.

BC Place sits in the heart of downtown Vancouver, a 10-minute walk from most major hotels. That single fact separated Vancouver from nearly every other host city in 2026. Sports Illustrated ranked Vancouver the top World Cup host city this summer, specifically citing that fans might be able to avoid driving entirely, with bars and restaurants within walking distance of the stadium too.

Walking into a World Cup match with mountains on the horizon and a waterfront at your side isn't just a logistical convenience, it's what makes seeing a match in Vancouver truly unique. Travelers can take advantage of exploring a new city from taking a gondola up Grouse Mountain to even a floating sauna, High Tide Sauna.

The walk is just as memorable as the match.

The Last Mile opened hours before kickoff, so spectators didn't feel rushed and could simply take it all in. By the time I reached my seat, I'd already felt like the excitement was over as my camera roll was already filled with videos of screaming fans covered in red and white face paint.

It was refreshing to watch an entire city get overtaken by soccer fans—not just inside a stadium, but along its streets and waterfront, all brought together by the love for the sport.

The match was, of course, unforgettable, but so was getting there. Too bad Canada didn't win, but we at least celebrated a goal which was simply electrifying.