Soccer excitement is building momentum in Vancouver after Canada’s men’s national team secured a 1-1 tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup opening match. While Toronto served as the venue for Canada’s inaugural men’s World Cup game on home turf, attention has shifted to Vancouver, where the team’s upcoming matches against Qatar and Switzerland will determine their tournament destiny.
Large crowds gathered at public viewing locations throughout downtown Vancouver to watch Friday’s match, witnessing Cyle Larin enter the game as a substitute and score the tying goal that earned Canada one point in Group B standings. Local supporters are already anticipating the next contest against Qatar at BC Place stadium in their city.
“As soon as they announced the World Cup coming in Vancouver… I think there’s definitely been an increase in interest in soccer, in football with the Premier League, with the locals,” Canada fan Robert Paige told Reuters at a downtown viewing of the game.
Local supporter April Bates believes the tournament is already creating positive community impact, particularly in bringing people together socially.
“I do think the World Cup has brought people together in new ways, especially with all these rallying points to bring people together to watch at community centres,” she told Reuters.
“I know some churches open their doors, we have public centres like Granville Island. I think you get the whole world coming together to watch, and it doesn’t even matter what country you’re from.”
With Canada’s two remaining matches scheduled for June 18 against Qatar and June 24 against Switzerland, Vancouver’s soccer scene will be in the national spotlight, leading some locals to hope for increased investment in the sport.
“Football is already really popular, but nothing hurts it growing more (than a lack of facilities),” fan Lisa McAllister told Reuters.
“We’d love to see more fields in Vancouver, you know. Not to get political, but we do have conflicts with dogs on our fields, so we’d love to see the kids have more access to green space where they can play soccer.”
