May 6 – A week after hosting the FIFA Congress, the Canadian city of Vancouver is embracing its host city status with the reveal that the city’s Science World will transform its iconic dome into a giant representation of the official World Cup match ball.
With reports that US cities, adjusting to lower than anticipated visitor travel bookings, are scaling back their World Cup spending, Vancouver is going the other way and embracing the opportunity to showcase itself on the global sporting stage.
To be unveiled as ‘The Beautiful Dome’, the landmark will become a, 360-degree, 40-metre-diameter re-creation of the Adidas Trionda official match ball for the finals.
“Forty years after it first welcomed the world at Expo 86, the dome that now houses Science World is proud to be part of another extraordinary moment in Vancouver’s history,” said Tracy Redies, President & CEO of Science World. “This unique installation is a bold feat of engineering and a testament to what is possible through creativity and collaboration. We are excited to welcome visitors from around the world and be part of an experience that will inspire and unite people.”
Made up of 131 custom-shaped and -sized panels, the Trionda design will begin on May 6 and take about four weeks to install (depending on weather conditions) with completion in early June.
Trionda means ‘three waves’ in Spanish, and pays homage to the first hosting of the expanded 48-team World Cup across the three host countries – Canada, Mexico and the USA.
The transformation of the dome is designed to become one of the defining visual moments of World Cup 2026, creating a backdrop for broadcast, digital storytelling, and visitor experiences.
Science World will also host an exhibition – Soccer & Technology from the FIFA Museum – from May 15 to September 7 as part of a summer of celebration of science and sport.
“This is about creating a globally iconic image that immediately connects Vancouver to the FIFA World Cup and showcases our city’s creativity and ambition,” said Royce Chwin, President & CEO of Destination Vancouver.
“The transformation of Science World is more than a visual transformation, it is an investment in telling British Columbia’s global story and represents a shared commitment to delivering an unforgettable FIFA World Cup experience, building a lasting economic and community legacy for Vancouver and the province.”
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