WATCH: Vancouver International Airport all set for World Cup

RICHMOND — The vast majority of international visitors arriving in Vancouver to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup will touch down at YVR.

In preparation, the airport has made a number of upgrades — before, during, and after security.

During a press conference on Wednesday, YVR Chief Operations Officer Andy Margolis said the airport has projected that between June 8 and July 12, around 2.7 million passengers will pass through its gates.

That's roughly 88,000 per day, a 5-10% increase over the same period last year.

Canada Border Services Agency YVR Operations Chief Jackie Tse reminded everyone coming to Vancouver to ensure they have the proper paperwork ready, and that "tickets to FIFA matches do not guarantee entry into Canada."

TransLink Media Relations Senior Manager Anita Bathe urged visitors and Vancouverites alike to use transit to get to and from the airport, noting that the agency will be "adding extra service across the system."

So what will passengers experience at YVR?

Let's start outside. Between the international departures entrance and the Canada Line Station sits a massive sign welcoming people in English, French, and hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the language of the Musqueam people, on whose traditional territory much of Vancouver sits.

Once inside, there are a number of football-related art installations, including this "YVR" sign near Purebread.

Much of the delays incurred by passengers at any airport are in the security lineup. To speed up that process, YVR has installed new CT screening technology at all domestic and international CATSA screening points. Work is underway to do the same for US departures.

With these machines, one needn't remove large electronics or small liquids from their bags.

Airside, there are various places to pick up World Cup merch, including the duty free, and the official World Cup pop-up shop.

There are also games for passengers to play, including a virtual reality penalty shootout.

To speed up boarding — by up to 13% — new facial recognition gates have been installed throughout the airport.

As of June 3, 42 gates are "biometric-enabled," while 28 are entirely converted to "e-gates."

Passengers need only walk up to the footprint decal, look into the camera, and "in a fraction of a second," the system recognizes them, and off they go.

The first game in Vancouver is scheduled for June 13, though fans are expected to start arriving days earlier. To ensure everything runs smoothly at YVR, a team of 240 volunteers will be brought in, and a coordination desk will be staffed 24/7.