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Christine Sinclair of Canada runs with the ball against England during their Women's International Friendly match on May 29, 2015 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

International soccer's governing body is being rocked by scandal – but when the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 kicks off in six cities across Canada this weekend, all eyes will be trained on the beautiful game.

Among the matchups at BC Place are Cameroon vs. Ecuador, Japan vs. Switzerland and Nigeria vs. the United States, as well as the final championship match on July 5. Team Canada kicks off its tournament with a game against China at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Saturday.

And while few of the players are household names, and the tournament does not draw the massive crowds that the men's World Cup does – tickets are still available for most matches, and some are priced as low as $20.15 – it draws visitors from around the globe, and the quality of play is remarkable.

"We're showcasing the best women soccer players in the world," says Vancouver venue general manager Rita Rogers, who points out that the tournament is also the largest women's sporting event on the planet. "So I think we'll see some amazing soccer on the pitch, and a great atmosphere too."

In addition to watching the live games at BC Place, soccer lovers can also head for the $1.2-million Olympics-style Fan Zone at Dunsmuir and Cambie streets to catch all of the games for free on a giant screen, finesse their moves on a mini pitch, take in live bands, refuel at an array of food trucks and enjoy a tall cold one in the beer garden.

Plenty of local watering holes are also getting in on the action, with favourite pubs and restaurants including St. Augustine's, Caffé Roma, Library Square, The Pint Public House, The London Pub, The Backstage Lounge, Steel Toad Brewery and many more broadcasting the matches on large-screen TVs. Fox News has set up shop at Jack Poole Plaza, where fans can take in the games and hours of highlights on a 10- by 20-foot screen.

Germany, Japan and the United States are favourites to win. So what are the chances that Team Canada, featuring star player Christine Sinclair, will advance far enough that fans can watch them score on home turf?

"Canada is performing really well, and if they advance out of their group stage matches, we might see them in Vancouver on June 21," Ms. Rogers says. "So we can all cross our fingers for that."

The FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 runs June 6 to July 5 across the country, including at BC Place. The Women's World Cup Fan Zone is at Dunsmuir and Cambie on select dates through July 5.

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