First Men's World Cup match in Vancouver draws 52,000
Australia beat Türkiye 2-0 at BC Place as the stadium's new grass pitch impresses on its debut.
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Australia defeated Türkiye 2-0 in the first-ever Men's World Cup match hosted in Vancouver on Saturday, with 52,497 fans filling BC Place to witness the milestone.
The stadium's new natural grass pitch made a striking difference. BC Place, long criticized as a cavernous concrete space that diminishes the viewing experience, looked and felt top-notch—both in person and on broadcast. The concourse was dressed up with a massive influx of TVs, and sight lines across all sections showed the field beautifully.
Türkiye fans made their presence felt hours before kickoff, turning blocks of Quebec Street red with smoke and chants. The McDonald's nearby became a gathering point as they claimed unofficial headquarters. Inside the stadium, however, yellow dominated. Sections reserved for Socceroos fans erupted each time Australia moved forward. The two goals nearly blew the roof off.
One notable miss: the BC Place roof, which cost significant money to make retractable, remained closed on one of the nicest days of the year. FIFA officials cited shadowing concerns, though Toronto's stadium hosted its World Cup game with roughly half the field covered in shadows.
Food and beverage prices reflected the scale of the event—$5.75 for water and $20 minimum for beer. The song choices during the match kept energy high throughout the 90 minutes.