While BC Place is bracing itself to host the first of seven matches on Saturday night, Vancouver bars, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses are looking forward to hosting their own special events: FIFA watch parties.

When Türkiye takes on Australia in the stadium at 9 p.m., there will be tens of thousands of fans sitting inside, cheering on their team.

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At the same time, there will be thousands of fans who are going to gather outside and watch the match, too.

Australian fans are expected to meet at The Commodore Ballroom along Granville Street in downtown Vancouver.

The concert venue will not only show the big game on a big screen; after the match, everyone is welcome to stay for live music by Cat Empire.

The Commodore Ballroom will open its doors at 7 p.m., two hours before the match kicks off at BC Place.

Supporters of Türkiye’s national team will begin their festivities with a fan march and parade.

The event invites all supporters to gather at Jonathan Rogers Park in Mount Pleasant, wearing red and white to gather and march before the opening match.

Fans will start marching at 5 p.m., passing the Science World SkyTrain station along their way to downtown.

Additionally, five-time winner Brazil will enter the tournament today, and their fans in Vancouver will be holding a party at The Pearl on Granville.

The team from Brazil, also known as Seleção, is taking on the Africa Cup Winner Morocco.

Even though the match will take place in the New York City area, fans of both teams living in the Lower Mainland are expected to celebrate on Vancouver streets.

Granville Street will be one of those streets, with the downtown strip being transformed into a Pedestrian Zone for the duration of the tournament.

Neutral-ground watch parties will be held at the official FIFA Fan Festival at the newly opened PNE amphitheatre and at other places in Metro Vancouver.

Among others, fans can watch the matches at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby, in Westbrook Village at UBC, at the Shipyards in North Vancouver, and at Surrey’s Civic Plaza.

City of Vancouver officials are urging fans to travel by public transit as SkyTrain and buses are operating on an adjusted schedule, offering more service throughout match days.

Additionally, multiple road closures around BC Place are in place, making it harder to drive around Vancouver.