Football teams and fans weren’t alone as they prepared for the World Cup games in Vancouver. The BC Provincial Court was preparing too. Having learned that major external events can affect how the Court operates, we take a proactive approach to planning for them.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was expected to affect the Court’s work in several ways. Police would be involved in crowd management, traffic control and public safety, which meant fewer officers would be available to testify as witnesses in criminal cases or prosecute traffic files. We had to consider how road closures and heavy demand for transit would affect the ability of court staff, lawyers, litigants and witnesses to get to courthouses. Fan zones, practice sites, watch parties and team accommodations would be spread across the region, so these impacts were expected to extend beyond the area around BC Place.

Even though Vancouver was only hosting seven games, World Cup activities would last for nearly a month. There was also the possibility of mass arrests that could necessitate organizing and holding multiple bail hearings without delay.

The Court began planning to manage these challenges in the spring of 2025. In July 2025, we announced scheduling adjustments for the “World Cup period” from June 12 to July 8, 2026. Generally, criminal trials would be scheduled before or after that window, while more family and civil matters would be set during it. Virtual attendance would also be encouraged when appropriate.

Updated and more detailed guidance followed in February 2026 as more information became available. Criminal proceedings and trials not requiring police attendance could proceed, but on match days the focus would be on virtual proceedings at Vancouver’s two Provincial Court locations, the Criminal Court at 222 Main Street and the Civil Court at Robson Square.

After the match schedule was confirmed in December, 2025, the BC government’s Court Services Branch was also able to finalize more detailed plans. This included making sure qualified interpreters would be available for the languages spoken in countries playing games in Vancouver, and for visitors travelling to Vancouver to watch games.

Overall, preparing for the World Cup required meticulous planning, close collaboration with stakeholder organizations, and strong teamwork within the Court. Clear communication with everyone affected was a key part of making it work.

After the final World Cup game, Chief Judge Gillespie said “I want to personally thank everyone who helped plan for the impact of the FIFA World Cup on the Provincial Court, including the Court Services Branch, BC Prosecution Service, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Legal Aid, Corrections, the provincial representative, and the staff and judges of the Provincial Court.

Sports unite us, and in the same spirit, working together to prepare for the potential impacts of this large event brought us together to work as a team. Congratulations too, to the Canadian team for its historic run and to Spain.”

Photo: Emilio Garcia