You don’t need tickets to a FIFA World Cup match to be part of the excitement this summer.

From giant fan festivals and interactive exhibits to watch parties, soccer-themed attractions, and family activities across Metro Vancouver, there are plenty of ways for kids (and parents) to experience FIFA World Cup fever without stepping inside BC Place.

After visiting the LEGO Canada activation at the FIFA Fan Festival myself, I quickly realized that many families don’t know just how many FIFA experiences are happening throughout the Lower Mainland.

Here’s my family-friendly guide to the best FIFA events happening around Metro Vancouver this summer.

1. FIFA Fan Festival at the PNE

📍 PNE Fairgrounds, Vancouver
📅 June 11 – July 19

If you’re only planning one FIFA experience this summer, make it this one.

The FIFA Fan Festival is essentially FIFA headquarters for fans without game tickets. Families can watch matches on massive screens, enjoy live entertainment, interactive activities, cultural performances, food vendors, sponsor activations, and special events throughout the tournament. The festival was designed to be family-friendly and accessible for all ages.

Highlights include:

LEGO Canada activation
Interactive sponsor experiences
Live entertainment
Giant viewing screens
Food trucks and vendors
Family activities
Photo opportunities

Parent Tips

✔ Arrive early on match days

✔ Take transit whenever possible

✔ Expect airport-style security

✔ Bring sunscreen

✔ Bring a hat

✔ Check the daily schedule before you go

One thing I noticed during our visit was that crowds build quickly, especially around popular activations.

2. Soccer & Technology from the FIFA Museum

📍 Science World
📅 May 15 – September 7

This is probably the most educational FIFA activity for families.

Science World’s special FIFA Museum exhibition explores how science, technology, engineering, and innovation impact the world’s most popular sport. The exhibit runs all summer and is included as part of your Science World visit.

Kids can learn about:

Sports technology
Goal-line technology
Athlete performance
Engineering in soccer
Interactive exhibits

Plus, Science World itself is always a win for families.

Parent Tip

Pair this with a full Science World day and make use of the outdoor water park if the weather cooperates.

3. FIFA Dome at Science World

One of Vancouver’s coolest photo opportunities this summer is simply outside Science World.

The iconic dome has been transformed into a giant FIFA soccer ball known as “The Beautiful Dome.”

Perfect for:

Family photos
Tourist photos
FIFA-themed content
Kids who love spotting giant landmarks

4. Capilano Suspension Bridge’s Canyon Kick-Off

📍 Capilano Suspension Bridge
📅 June 6 – July 19

Capilano Suspension Bridge has joined the FIFA celebration with soccer-themed activities included with admission.

If you’re already planning a visit, this is a great way to combine outdoor adventure with FIFA fun.

5. Surrey Soccer Fan Zones

📍 Surrey Civic Plaza
📍 Cloverdale Agriplex
📍 South Surrey Athletic Park
📅 June 11 – July 19

Surrey is hosting multiple family-friendly soccer fan zones throughout the tournament.

These community events offer opportunities to watch matches, participate in soccer-themed activities, and celebrate the World Cup atmosphere closer to home.

Perfect if you don’t want to battle Vancouver traffic.

6. Richmond Celebrates Soccer

📍 Various Richmond Parks
📅 June 12 – July 19

Richmond is bringing FIFA celebrations into local parks through community events and soccer-themed activities.

If you’re already planning a Richmond day, it’s worth checking the city’s event calendar before you go.

7. Richmond Night Market FIFA Experiences

The Richmond Night Market is embracing World Cup season with FIFA-inspired activations, themed experiences, and a fun international atmosphere that pairs perfectly with the tournament.

This is especially fun for older kids who enjoy trying foods from around the world.

Parent Tip

Go earlier in the evening if you’re bringing younger children. The crowds become much heavier later at night.

8. Canada Soccer House at The Shipyards

📍 North Vancouver
📅 June 11 – July 19

The Shipyards is hosting Canada Soccer House, creating another family-friendly gathering place for fans.

Expect:

Match viewing
Community celebrations
Interactive activities
Family-friendly programming

9. Granville Island FIFA Activities

📍 Granville Island
📅 June 11 – July 19

Granville Island is joining the World Cup festivities with special programming throughout the tournament.

This makes for a great family day:

✔ Kids Market

✔ Playground

✔ Public Market

✔ FIFA activities

✔ Waterfront walks

10. Township of Langley FIFA Events

📍 Township of Langley
📅 Select dates

Langley is hosting FIFA-themed community events throughout the tournament period, offering another great option for Fraser Valley families.

Before You Go: Parent Survival Guide

Bring

✔ Refillable water bottle (where permitted)

✔ Sunscreen

✔ Hat

✔ Portable phone charger

✔ Snacks for younger children

✔ Comfortable walking shoes

✔ Weather-appropriate clothing

Expect

✔ Security screening at major venues

✔ Long lineups on weekends

✔ Increased traffic around host locations

✔ Limited parking at some events

✔ Higher attendance on Canadian match days

Best Events for Younger Kids

⭐ Science World FIFA Exhibit

⭐ FIFA Dome

⭐ Surrey Fan Zones

⭐ Granville Island

⭐ LEGO Canada activation at the Fan Festival

Best Events for Older Kids & Teens

⭐ FIFA Fan Festival

⭐ Richmond Night Market

⭐ Canada Soccer House

⭐ Match viewing parties

⭐ Capilano Suspension Bridge

I’ll be honest: I’ve never really been an EV person.

https://www.kiapressoffice.com/models/ev4

Give me a family-friendly SUV with lots of cargo space, a comfortable ride, and enough room for all the random things moms seem to accumulate in their vehicles, and I’m happy. Electric vehicles have always felt a little intimidating to me. I worried about charging. I worried about range. And if I’m being completely honest, I assumed I’d constantly be thinking about where the nearest charger was.

Then I spent a week driving the Kia EV4 Wind GT-Line.

And now I get it.

The Charge That Wouldn’t Quit

The first thing that surprised me was the range.

The EV4 offers up to 552 kilometres of estimated range in its long-range configuration, which is among the best in its class. Kia designed the EV4 to prioritize efficiency, helping drivers spend less time charging and more time driving.

As a busy mom, I wasn’t setting out on some epic road trip. We were doing real-life driving: school runs, errands, activities, grocery pickups, and all the little trips that seem to fill every week.

And somehow, one charge lasted the entire week.

I kept waiting for the moment when I’d need to think about charging, and it never really came. For the first time, driving an EV felt completely normal. There was no range anxiety, no planning my day around a charging station, and no stress.

Just driving.

The Car That Somehow Feels Bigger on the Inside

The second surprise was the size.

When I first saw the EV4, I assumed it would feel small. After all, it’s a compact electric sedan, not a large SUV.

But both my daughter and I had the exact same reaction when we climbed in.

“Why does this feel so big?”

Neither of us could quite figure it out.

The cabin feels incredibly spacious, and somehow you don’t get that low-to-the-ground feeling that many smaller cars have. We both felt like we were sitting higher than expected, with great visibility and plenty of room around us.

It’s one of those vehicles that seems to perform a magic trick. From the outside, it looks sleek and compact. From the inside, it feels much larger than it has any right to.

The EV4 is built on Kia’s dedicated E-GMP electric vehicle platform, which allows engineers to maximize interior space because there isn’t a traditional engine taking up room. The battery sits low in the floor, helping create a more open cabin while also improving stability.

The Mom Test: Passed

Let’s talk about what actually matters for family life.

Because while horsepower and battery capacity are great, parents are usually wondering something much simpler:

Will this make my life easier?

For me, the answer was yes.

The trunk is surprisingly generous and swallowed everything I threw at it throughout the week. Grocery runs? Easy. Activity gear? No problem. Random bags that somehow live in my car forever? Plenty of room.

The technology also felt intuitive rather than overwhelming.

That’s a bigger compliment than it sounds.

Many modern vehicles are packed with screens and features, but sometimes you need a tutorial just to change the climate settings. The EV4 felt different. The controls made sense, the interface was easy to navigate, and I wasn’t constantly digging through menus to find what I needed.

The available panoramic digital display combines multiple screens into one seamless setup, giving drivers easy access to navigation, media, vehicle information, and climate controls.

The Stuff Car People Will Appreciate

Now for the details that my car-loving friends would probably want me to mention.

The EV4 is Kia’s first dedicated electric sedan and rides on the company’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). This is the same architecture that underpins several of Kia’s award-winning EVs.

The long-range models use an 81.4-kWh battery pack and support DC fast charging, allowing the battery to charge from approximately 10% to 80% in around 31 minutes under ideal conditions.

One of the reasons the EV4 achieves such impressive range is its aerodynamic design. Kia focused heavily on efficiency, giving the vehicle a sleek shape that helps it slip through the air more easily than many crossovers and SUVs.

The result is a vehicle that doesn’t feel like it’s constantly sacrificing practicality in the name of efficiency. It manages to be efficient while still feeling comfortable, spacious, and family-friendly.

Would I Actually Consider Owning One?

Before driving the EV4, I probably would have said no.

Now?

Absolutely.

It didn’t try to convince me to love electric vehicles through flashy gimmicks or futuristic features. It simply made everyday life easier.

It gave me enough range that I stopped thinking about charging.

It gave my family enough room that we never felt cramped.

And it delivered all the practical details I look for as a mom without feeling like a giant vehicle to park or maneuver.

The Kia EV4 Wind GT-Line ended up being one of the most surprising vehicles I’ve driven in a long time.

Not because it was electric.

But because after a week behind the wheel, I completely forgot it was.

Childhood should be fun… for parents Too!

Month: June 2026

The Ultimate Family Guide to FIFA Vancouver 2026: Family-Friendly Events, Fan Zones & Things To Do