by Alison Heathcote - Published: June, 2026

Staying Relevant and FIFA Fever

Introduction

Staying Relevant

One of the characteristics of an older person can be their lack of awareness for technology, trends and what is in fashion.

The trends governing the year and how attitudes towards these changes is always shifting.

Staying relevant in today's world can be tricky.

There is so much developing before our eyes that it is hard to know to what to put your attention, if anything.

If you live in a cottage in the woods and grow your own food through your own efforts then perhaps the modern world does not impinge on your life.

But if you are like me, living in a medium sized city in the first world, then you will be exposed to more modern thoughts, trendy ideas, art and social movements.

In 2026 one of these for me is the FIFA soccer world cup.

The Beautiful Game

Football

I grew up in England where football is played.

It's like religion.

I can still recall the 1966 England win of the world cup.

I was a child back then but was caught up in the card collecting for all the players and their teams which all the kids in my village glued into their football collection's books.

My brother, who is two years older than me, was far more involved in the whole football thing than I was at the time and really I think I just tagged along.

2026

Sixty years later and I find myself living in a city which is hosting the FIFA world cup and it shows.

The rumblings began towards the end of last year when our local sports shop suddenly had international team shirts in the window.

That was back last June when I wandered in to get a Canada Day shirt to wear for July 1st on Canada Day which is when I discovered that there was some football thing brewing.

Soccer

Here in Canada, they call the sport soccer so that it differentiates itself from American football.

It was at this time that I realized that it was going to be big for the city and that Canada was joint hosts of the games along with Mexico and the USA. Who knew?

Now I'm quite aware of what is going on.

But let's be quite clear here, I do not know the first thing about football, I never have and I probably never will.

What I do know is that the place where I live, downtown Vancouver, is hosting five live games.

This activity has drawn thousands of summer visitors into my city from all over the world.

The hotels are booked solid (to 105% capacity) and many things are changing to welcome the visitors and fans.

Matches

Australia

When I discovered that Australia was to play Turkey on June 18th right here in town, I decided to get a yellow Ozzie shirt for the occasion.

Canada

I did have the Canada top that I'd got for Canada Day last year so I was good for that for the match on June 18th with Qatar and 24th against Switzerland.

See, I'm getting the hang of this.

Robson Square

Arty Balls

There is a plaza called Robson Square which is in the heart of the metropolitan area and they have decorated above the pavement with massive hanging footballs for all the countries taking part.

Supermarket

Escalator

In my local supermarket where I buy my bread and milk they have decorated the escalator with the flags of the teams.

I believe this is promoting Coca-Cola but still its right there in your face.

Local University

Training Field

At my local university, I heard that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has booked out one of the student residences fully to house the police who have been brought into Vancouver to support the festivities.

Typically, a student residence had around 1800 beds, so that's quite a lot of Mounties in the area now.

I wonder if I'll be seeing actual horses as well…

Granville Street

Festival Time

The main entertainment area runs through Granville Street.

This is where all the restaurants, bars and theatres are and where many events are held.

Now they have closed five city blocks of Granville Street off to traffic and have converted them in unique tourist areas with food trucks, vendors and lots of soccer paraphernalia for you to purchase.

Even three weeks out the engineers are there with concrete foundations erecting tents and gazebos to support the event.

My Sketchbook

World Cup

As I was watching TV there were so many adverts promoting the soccer world cup and some of kids sketching the actual trophy, that I decided to have a go a drawing it myself.

After exploring the trophy design some more, I discovered that it had been designed by Silvio Gazzaniga (aged 95), who is an Italian sculptor.

Pencil

In my 5" x 8" sketchbook I did a quick pencil outline to get the shape. This was quite tricky as there are so many swoopy lines for the twisted nature of the trophy.

Black Pen

Next, I added black pen (0.3mm nib) and outlined the whole thing.

Colored Pencils

I selected a golden and green pallet of colored pencils for this gold trophy.

• Dark chrome yellow (109)
• Naples yellow (185)
• Dark Naples ochre (184)
• Light cadmium yellow (105)
• Earth green Yellowish 168
• Chromium green opaque (174)

Shading

I began lightly with the color and then slowly built up the gold impression.

To get the feel of a metal in a sketchbook is tricky but I tried my best.

Science World

Giant Football

Science world is a complex that teaches visitors about science and things, but it has a geodesic dome made of steel a glass that looks like a sphere with a 47m (154 feet) diameter.

It basically looks like an enormous ball.

Recently they have decorated to look just like a FIFA football for the 2026 games.

FIFA Bus Route

Number 1 Bus

During the festivities, the city has put on another downtown circular bus service called the number one bus.

It travels in an anticlockwise direction along Burrard, Davie, Cambie and West Pender streets.

This route effectively circles the main downtown core of Vancouver.

Stops

It has stops at the main SkyTrain (tube) stations of Burrard, Yaletown and Granville stations.

This is surely to get the fans and visitors moving about the city easily.

The main stop is at BC Place which is the grounds where the actual Vancouver football matches will take place.

FIFA Bus

There is even a FIFA bus with a 1m (3'6") diameter semicircle ball stuck on the front of the bus decorated like a soccer ball.

I believe that was the Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer bus from Christmas which has been repurposed especially for the summer.

BC Place

Stadium Pitch

Months have been spent fixing up the grass in the stadium.

Apparently, there is usually only astroturf, a plastic grass, and not living plant turf.

I am now aware that the species of grasses grown especially for FIFA 2026 is a combination of Kentucky Blue grass and perennial rye grass.

They will mow it to 30mm (1.5 inches) long before each game.

Who knew?

So What?

In My Own Back Yard

Why am I telling you all this?

I believe that as an older woman living in the city it's important to keep up to date with things going on around me.

Avoid Bad News

I try to avoid following the main news as it is always bad news.

It seems that wars and killing continue to be initiated and fueled which is quite depressing.

I try to protect my mind by not exposing myself to so much bad news.

However, I like to stay in the know.

Staying Relevant and In the Know

Things that are going on right on my doorstep I am interested in, but what exactly do I know?

Not much really, about football that is, but the impact to my city, well, that I do know something about.

Conversations

People are talking about the soccer event all around town.

The good folks on the bus chat about the score and which teams moved on towards the final.

My doorman in my building has lots to say about the games, teams, players and matches as he follows the whole thing all very closely.

Retail staff in my local grocery store just come right out and share with me that they are supporting Brazil as their late grandmother was Brazilian. If you need a reason then there it is.

Visitors

I know the event has brought thousands of dollars into my city.

The restaurants and shops are packed.

People who come to Vancouver don't just watch the match, stay holed up in the rooms and then leave, they gather in the restaurants and bars.

They sail boats in the local waters.

They hike the magnificent Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour and Cypress Mountain and wander through their old forests to reach the peaks offering spectacular views over the city and mainland.

They visit art galleries and admire First Nation carvings and craft exhibitions.

They explore the remains of old growth forests with massive trees like Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, Western Hemlock and Sitha Spruces specimens in Stanley Park and over on Vancouver Island.

They immerse themselves in Pacific Northwest culture.

They go to nearby nature attraction towns like Whistler, Victoria and Tofino to sample all the good things which this beautiful area has to offer.

They go home speaking well of the area and of how others should make the journey to visit Vancouver at least once in their lifetime.

Overarch

Staying Relevant

What I hope you get from this is that I believe that even though I'm not a football fan by any means I am still trying to keep up with what's going on around me this summer.

This is clearly a seasonal thing.

I like to live my life in tune with the seasons and it just so happens that this year there is a big ports event dominating the summer here where I live.

On my doorstep, right on my doorstep.

Seasonal Living

Now and then, there are some seasonal events that occur.

I expect there are some where you live too.

Perhaps there are:

• Summer festivals
• Tulip festivals (spring)
• Boat races
• Music festivals
• Christmas trains (winter)
• Local hero celebrations (anytime)
• Natural pumpkin patches and crop mazes to visit (Autumn)
• Polar bear plunges (winter)

Or other local and season events.

I believe that life is richer if you do make yourself aware of what is going on around you and that you stay relevant.

Of course, not everything will interest you, it doesn't me.

But as we grow older why not make a point of being aware, of being in the know about more than the four walls which surround you.

Get outside every day and go and see wha'ts going on right on your doorstep.

Extend Yourself

Journal Reflection Ideas

Take a quiet moment with your journal and reflect on your everyday world:

• Notice how you usually stay aware of what is happening nearby. Is it through routine, conversation or simply moving through your day?
• Reflect on how you respond to change or busy public events. Do you lean in, step back or stay steady in your own rhythm?
• Pay attention this week to one small detail in your local environment that you usually overlook. What do you see when you slow down and notice it?

Extend Yourself Further

Staying Relevant

Go a little deeper in reflection:

• Write a few paragraphs on what "staying relevant" means to you in your own life right now.

Resources For You

Seasonal Themed Book

Here is a book which may interest you:

• A Home for All Seasons: Gracious living and stylish entertaining by Danielle Rollins

Cards

Here are some postcards which may interest you.

• 2026 World Cup Postcards Pack (16 postcards)

Author Bio

Alison Heathcote writes about living creatively and building a meaningful life on your own terms. Through gentle reflections on solo living, home and everyday creativity, she explores how to shape a life that feels calm, intentional and deeply your own. More