In May 2026, Science World transformed its landmark geodesic dome — a Vancouver icon since Expo 86 — into a 40-metre, 360-degree replica of the adidas Trionda™, the official match ball of FIFA World Cup 2026™. Rebranded The Beautiful Dome, a nod to "the beautiful game," the installation became one of the most visible symbols of Vancouver's World Cup host city status — and one of the defining earned-media campaigns of the tournament.

The Tea Communications led campaign strategy, naming, and media relations for the project, working alongside Science World, Destination Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Vancouver Host Committee, and the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association, with fabrication and installation led by The Look Company.

The Opportunity

Vancouver's dome is one of the most photographed structures in the city, but turning that visibility into a global media moment tied to the World Cup required more than a striking visual. The Tea Communications was brought in to build a strategy that would:

Position Science World and Vancouver at the centre of FIFA World Cup 2026™ storytelling
Generate sustained, high-quality earned media across news, broadcast, and online channels
Create a shareable, unmistakably "Vancouver" visual moment that would travel internationally
Support tourism and destination-marketing goals for the Province and Destination Vancouver

Bringing It to Life

Each of the dome's 131 panels was custom-engineered and installed to recreate the Trionda at architectural scale — a first for the building since it welcomed the world at Expo 86. The Tea Communications shaped the media narrative from the ground up: pitching the installation itself as a story, not just the finished result. Time-lapse footage, drone shots, and behind-the-scenes access gave media and social audiences a front-row seat to the build, laying the groundwork for sustained coverage once the dome was complete.

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"The Beautiful Dome started as an ambitious dream and became one of the defining images of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. We are thrilled to see it being shared by news outlets around the world and in countless social media posts. The transformation of Science World's iconic dome into the Trionda™... was no small engineering feat. Each of the 131 panels had to be custom-created and installed to create a 360-degree, 40-metre-diameter re-creation of the ball. We're thankful for all our partners in bringing this to life."

— Rob Hollingsworth, Senior Director, Commercial Sales & Partnerships, Science World

The Results

The Tea Communications' earned media strategy placed The Beautiful Dome among the most successful destination-marketing stories tied to Vancouver's World Cup hosting.

Total Media Reach: 2.19+ billion
Advertising Value Equivalency (AVE): $20+ Million
Total Media Mentions: 1,800+ across news, broadcast & online in 25+ countries

Coverage spanned international design and architecture press, sports media, and travel outlets, alongside a wave of organic social sharing that carried the image of the dome far beyond Vancouver — reinforcing the city's identity as a World Cup host on a global stage.