(Photo by Quintin Soloviev via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0 DEED)
For many Vancouverites, the FIFA World Cup 2026 represents a moment of pride and joy. As the city has been announced the “best host city”, promising international recognition, tourism revenue, and an opportunity to showcase Vancouver in all its glory on a global stage.
Yet, mega sporting events often leave behind more than just economic benefits and memorable matches. They reshape public spaces, increase surveillance, intensify policing, and place additional pressure on vulnerable communities. As Vancouver witnesses FIFA 2026, community organizations and advocates are raising concerns about whether the pursuit of a picture-perfect tournament risks pushing social issues further into the shadows.
The conversation surrounding FIFA is not simply about the game, but about who gets to belong in a city that is preparing itself for the world’s attention and who gets left behind.
The Unhoused Community and Cost of a Perfect Image
In May 2026, various homelessness advocates and labour organizations gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver to protest what they viewed as the negative consequences of the tournament preparations. They feared that these preparations would prioritize the city’s image over the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
These concerns are not new to Vancouver. People point back to the 2010 Winter Olympics as a warning. A study points out how the “Olympic effect” does not just disappear when the event ends but often leaves behind long-term patterns of displacement and gentrification. It describes how large-scale events have historically led to the removal or relocation of unhoused populations and the restructuring of public spaces in ways that prioritize visitors over residents.
Fast forward to FIFA 2026, similar concerns are resurfacing. Advocacy groups suggest that increased “clean-up” efforts around key event areas could again push unhoused people out of visible parts of the city. These policies and enforcement practices make it increasingly difficult for unhoused individuals to remain in spaces they currently occupy.
(Photo by Northwest via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0 DEED)
Displacement can occur in many forms, including increased policing, removal of encampments, and restriction of public space. While the officials deny it, rumors are spreading that the shipping off of people has already happened. These concerns are heightened by broader policy shifts, including B.C.’s rollback of its drug decriminalization pilot.
Such measures risk pushing unhoused people further from essential services and support systems. Intentional or not, attempts to create a polished image of the city are significantly harmful for those who already live on its margins. If the city is already struggling to provide adequate shelter and affordable housing, will FIFA further strain an already fragile system?
Security for Some, Surveillance for Others
Security has become one of the most defining features of modern mega-events. With hundreds of thousands of people visiting from all across the world, officials argue that enhanced surveillance is necessary for public safety.
As a part of FIFA preparations, approximately 200 temporary surveillance cameras have been installed around BC Place, fan zones, and training facilities. According to the officials, the cameras are intended to help manage crowds and improve security during the tournament.
However, concerns have sparked regarding who controls this footage, where it’s being stored, and whether these “temporary” measures could get normalized to increase surveillance in public spaces even after the event concludes. Surveillance tech often disproportionately affects those who spend the most time in public spaces, including unhoused individuals. Unlike tourists who leave after a match, people living on the streets remain under constant surveillance.
Beyond privacy concerns, the expansion of surveillance also raises questions about public spending priorities. In June 2025, the Vancouver City Council approved negotiations for a $12.9 million contract with TELUS Communications to provide FIFA-related digital infrastructure. This includes CCTV systems, internet access, Wi-Fi networks, and a centralized operating platform for the tournament.
According to the council report, these services are required under Vancouver’s obligations as a FIFA host city. In a city facing an ongoing housing affordability crisis and rising homelessness, these resources, planning capacity, and political attention devoted to FIFA preparations could have been directed towards addressing these long-standing social issues.
Human Rights Beyond the Stadium
The impacts of mega international events extend beyond housing and surveillance. Human rights organizations have increasingly called attention to how large sporting events can create conditions that increase sexual exploitation and gender based violence.
Discussions surrounding major sporting events often include warnings about human trafficking. However, researchers argue that there is little evidence to support that trafficking itself is directly driven by such events. Still, they do argue how such events can amplify existing vulnerabilities and create environments where exploitation may become easier to conceal.
The issue is not whether FIFA causes trafficking, but if authorities are adequately prepared to protect vulnerable populations during periods of increased tourism, nightlife activity, and public celebration. For unhoused women, these risks can be particularly severe. Unlike tourists who return to hotels at night, many unhoused individuals remain in public spaces where increased crowds and activity may expose them to greater danger.
(Photo by GoToVan via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0 DEED)
There is also evidence that in such mega events, there is an increase in other forms of gender-based violence. Following France’s victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, reports of several women being assaulted came out. Similar concerns have been documented, where researchers have found links between major sporting events and domestic violence. Particularly when alcohol consumption and heightened emotions are involved.
Recognizing these risks, organizations like the Aura Freedom and Ending Violence came out with their campaign ad “The Space Between”. This public announcement raises awareness of coercive control and the realities many women face behind closed doors during such events.
If Vancouver hopes to uphold its commitment to human rights as outlined in its FIFA Human Rights Action Plan — and prove that it is more than just a performative plan — preparations must include more than security checkpoints and crowd control measures.
What Will be FIFA’s Legacy?
FIFA 2026 will undoubtedly bring benefits to Vancouver. Tourism revenue, international attention, infrastructure improvement, and community excitement are all legitimate outcomes that should not be dismissed. The event has a unique ability to unite people across cultures and backgrounds. And for many fans, the tournament will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Yet focusing solely on these benefits risks overlooking the uneven distribution of costs.
The people most likely to experience the negative consequences are often the ones with the least power and influence. Unhoused residents, low-income workers, and marginalized communities whose daily lives unfold in public spaces. Meanwhile, most of the financial and reputational rewards flow towards governments and corporations. This imbalance is why accountability matters.
The legacy of FIFA 2026 will ultimately be determined not just by what happens inside the stadium, but also by what happens beyond its gates. And that raises an even harder question: what even is the legacy of FIFA?
Across multiple tournaments, concerns have followed the event. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar drew global scrutiny after reports showed serious human rights abuses linked to migrant labour conditions during stadium construction, including thousands of worker deaths recorded over the years. At the same time, questions around access and exclusion have continued.
During recent tournaments, visa restrictions and entry policies have raised concerns about who is able to attend. With some fans, workers, referees, and even players facing barriers upon entry depending on their nationality.
If becoming the “best host city” requires increased surveillance, displacement concerns, heightened policing, and the restructuring of public spaces, then perhaps the question should not just focus on what Vancouver is doing. But rather why international organizations are allowed to demand so much from host cities in the first place.
Edited by Khushi Mehta
.jpg){kind=link}