Go Canada, go! Port Alberni fans cheer on Team Canada

Go Canada, go! Port Alberni fans cheer on Team Canada

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Port Alberni’s FIFA watch parties draw fans who support all sorts of teams. (Sonja Drinkwater/ Alberni Valley News)

Canadian soccer fans gather at the Kinsmen Community Centre (KCC) in Port Alberni for Canada’s first World Cup footie match against Bosnia on Friday, June 12, 2026. The atmosphere was electric when Canada scored its first World Cup goal, giving the team its first World Cup point. A crowd packed the KCC again on Thursday, June 18 to watch Canada beat Qatar 6-0. They’ll be back at it Wednesday, June 24 to play Switzerland at noon. (Sonja Drinkwater/ Alberni Valley News)

A big-screen television has been set up at the KCC in Port Alberni for people to watch several World Cup soccer matches. While the Team Canada matches are predictably busy, other games have also drawn crowds. There’s loads of entertainment happening as well. (Sonja Drinkwater/ Alberni Valley News)

Football fever has hit the Alberni Valley! Watch parties for FIFA World Cup games have been taking place primarily at the Kinsmen Community Centre (KCC) in Port Alberni, right from the kick-off on June 12 of Team Canada’s opening match against Bosnia.

Team Canada made history by collecting its first World Cup point, and Port Alberni footie fans were on hand to witness it.

Then Thursday, June 18 the place erupted when Team Canada shut out Qatar 6-0.

Canada plays again on Wednesday, June 24 against Switzerland at noon. Doors will open prior to the kickoff.

The Alberni Valley group received a grant to hold its 2026 Indigenous-led Soccer Community Events, co-hosted by the FIFA 2026 Vancouver Island Festivities group, Alberni Athletics Soccer Club, and local First Nations the Tseshaht, Hupacasath and Huu-ay-aht nations.

The Huu-ay-aht are hosting a west coast satellite venue at the House of Huu-ay-aht gymnasium.

Games are being televised at two venues in Port Alberni: the Kinsmen Community Centre (KCC) at the Alberni District Fall Fair Grounds as well as the House of Huu-ay-aht gymnasium in Bamfield (July 7).

The World Cup final is slated for Sunday, July 19 with the pre-show at 11:15 a.m. and kickoff at 12 p.m. Both will be shown at the KCC.

If you’re wondering which games are being televised and when the KCC doors open, check out the FIFA 2026 Vancouver Island Festivities page on Facebook or a full interactive web schedule at https://fwc26vifest.ca/ and click the ‘Join the Celebration’ link.