‘Land, sea, and air’: Massive police presence planned for World Cup match day in Vancouver

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Gearing up for Canada vs. Qatar

Police in Vancouver are relying on a highly visible presence of officers, as well as years of preparation, to make sure the city is safe when Team Canada takes the pitch against Qatar Thursday.

Deputy Chief Const. Don Chapman said the hosting matches during the tournament is “bigger than anything we’ve seen in the city” and that the department is rising to the occasion by deploying roughly 1,200 officers—bolstering the ranks of the local force with Mounties and municipal police from Metro Vancouver and Alberta.

“They’re going to see us, we’re going to see them,” Chapman said, summarizing part of the public safety strategy, as officers mustered ahead of their deployments.

“We’re really sort of tackling this from a mission perspective—from land, sea, and air.”

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On Saturday, when Vancouver hosted its first match, police said there were no major incidents and only two arrests linked to the World Cup.

And Chapman is hopeful the same will be the case when the city welcomes Team Canada to a sold-out BC Place.

“I really want to say hats off to all the visitors that have arrived here,” Chapman said.

“And then a big hats off to the locals and the citizens of Vancouver. We’re just being so warm and hospitable to everybody that’s come. I think we have great fans here, and I think they’re going to be responsible. I think they’re going to be well behaved.”

In addition to police, so-called spotters will be present in every city that hosts a World Cup match. Chapman noted that these people hail from nations around the world but are not law enforcement officials. Their role is to liaise with police to provide potentially crucial intelligence about well-known hooligans or agitators.

“They know who those sort of nefarious fans are who may start causing problems and whatnot,” Chapman said, adding that spotters from Qatar will likely be monitoring what unfolds Thursday.

Police officers will be patrolling on foot and bicycle, on motorcycles and in vehicles. The department’s police boats will be in the water and drones will be providing an aerial perspective. The heavily armed emergency response team will also be on hand.

“I think we’re ready to go,” Chapman said.

The most recent cost projection for hosting part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Vancouver includes $242 million for safety and security.

No one from the provincial government or the Vancouver Police Department will say how much of that is being spent on policing.