Vancouver airport expecting 88,000 passengers daily during FIFA World Cup

Vancouver airport expecting 88,000 passengers daily during FIFA World Cup

Published 4:11 pm Thursday, June 4, 2026

An installation for FIFA World Cup at the Vancouver International Airport. YVR is expecting to hit 2.7 million passengers between June 8 and July 12, 2026. (Vancouver International Airport/Facebook)

Vancouver International Airport is expecting up to a 10-per-cent increase in passengers volumes during FIFA World Cup compared to the same period in 2025.

Between June 8 and July 12, passenger volumes are expected to hit 2.7 million or nearly 88,000 people per day, YVR said during a news conference Wednesday (June 3). The airport says that it would be a five-to-10-per-cent increase compared to the same period last year.

The highest passenger volumes are expected in the days before and after a match.

The 2026 men’s World Cup is from June 11 to July 19. Vancouver will host seven matches, with the first on June 13. Vancouver will also host a round of 16 game in the knockout stage on July 7.

Vancouver International Airport has made some changes to “increase capacity, improve flow, and enhance the overall passenger experience.”

That includes additional new CT screening technology installed at all domestic and international CATSA screening points and connecting checkpoints at U.S. departures to eliminate the need to remove large electronics and small liquids from carry‑on bags.

YVR has also expanded its biometric and facial comparison boarding program to include 42 biometric‑enabled gates, with 28 of those full e-gates. The airport says it will making boarding up to 13 per cent faster and has helped to increase on-time departures, “even when an aircraft arrives behind schedule.”

Vancouver International Airport now has a 24-7 “FIFA Coordination Desk” that will provide “real-time” support for players, officials, media, and other credential travellers.