Ottawa soccer fans celebrate Canada's World Cup appearance
Canada’s run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup came to an end with a 2-1 loss to Morocco, but for many soccer fans in Ottawa this was still a victory for the country.
Late in the first half of play, the Canadian men’s national soccer team would score their only goal in the match against Morocco. But it was enough for the nearly 600 students at St. Joseph Catholic High School to jump up and cheer.
"It inspires the youth and it’s just a great experience and it’s amazing to see them at this stage," said Grade 11 student Mario Frangione. "I think now that they’re in it anything is possible."
There was plenty of excitement across the capital region for the third and final game for Canada, who even with a win would not be moving forward, and the energy levels of football fans did not drop.
As Morocco headed into the second half with a 2-1 lead, spectators at the Glebe Central Pub remained positive, loud and kept eyes glued to the many televisions, hoping for a comeback.
"It’s been a dream since I was a young kids to have Canada in the World Cup," says Aaron Hooper. "We belong on the football stage, just like the rest of the world is starting to believe in Canada.”
And as the 71st minute approached, Canada nearly scored again, the pub crowd was rowdy, as the ball bounced on the goal line.
"We’re just really proud. We don’t care, this is a celebration about the game," says Daniel Duff, president of Capital City Supporters Group.
"I’m very proud to see the same people that have turned out a year and a half a go for our qualification runs, they’re out in full force. The loyalists are here deservedly, so everybody is enthusiastic."
In the end, Canada was defeated, but for Duff and so many other fans, it was a triumph. Records were broken on the pitch; the men’s national team scored two goals during the three matches, a feat which has never been done before.
"People have waited generations for it and in true Canadian fashion we’ll do the curtain call as good as anybody else," Duff said. "Our expectations have been modest but we are impressed, we wanted one goal and we got two."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.