City Hall Dons FIFA Colors as World Cup Nears

Vancouver City Hall's nearly 90-year-old Art Deco exterior is wearing new colours this month. Crews have wrapped the heritage building's tower in official FIFA-branded graphics, starting with the southern facade along West 12th Avenue and extending to the north side overlooking the campus garden. It's a dramatic temporary makeover of one of the city's most recognizable civic buildings.

The installation is part of a broader transformation across Vancouver as the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in just three weeks. The city is threading World Cup décor through its public spaces with surprising coordination: 2,900 FIFA street banners now dress key roadways and transit corridors. At YVR Airport Station on the Canada Line, a multi-storey FIFA sign spans the glass exterior, greeting arriving visitors immediately. One of Hullo Ferries' fleet has received a temporary FIFA makeover.

But the most ambitious installation by far is Science World's geodesic dome, which is being transformed into a giant replica of the adidas Trionda — the official match ball. That project, called "The Beautiful Dome," should be complete by early June.

One major piece won't make it in time: the permanent VANCOUVER sign for Canada Place's entrance plaza has been pushed to Fall 2026. Originally scheduled for this month, it's still in design. A temporary version will go up during the tournament to welcome cruise passengers and fans.

The momentum is undeniable. Walk Downtown or near BC Place and you'll see the city in full tournament mode — wayfinding signage, dressing, and official branding at public transit hubs. It's the kind of transformation that makes a city feel like it's hosting something genuinely significant.