World Cup excitement comes to Ottawa ahead of Canada's first match
World Cup fever has hit the capital as fans fill local pubs to watch their favourite team play football.
After a nearly four-decade wait, Canada’s national men’s soccer team has a spot in the tournament, making their debut on Wednesday a must-watch event.
Daniel Duff dawns his Dutch-orange jersey for Monday’s early-afternoon match against Senegal, but really, it’s all about getting to wear red.
“I’ve been watching this game for over thirty years now and it’s the first time I’ve ever been able to have two teams in the World Cup. It’s a remarkable thing to see Canada in here,” says Duff. “This is a lifestyle for a lot of us and we never would have dreamt we would have our women as world Olympic champions and our men going to Qatar in the same calendar year. Football is alive and well here in Ottawa and we couldn’t be happier.”
The last time Canada had a berth the World Cup, it was 1986, 13 years before Duff’s friend and fellow football fan, Joseph Huneault was born.
“I’m in the same boat as a lot of people where I’ve always had to pick another team and, now that Canada is here, I have more than one occasion, more than one reason to watch the game and it’s fantastic,” says Huneault. “My expectations are very humble for us and if we score a goal we’ve done better than we had last time and that’s all I’m hopeful for.”
Duff is president of Capital City Supporters Group, which rallies and engages other football fans to support Atlético Ottawa football club. He is also the Ottawa representative for The Voyageurs, a country-wide soccer group, which has teamed up with The Glebe Central Pub to headquarter viewing parties.
“It’s crazy to see our country back on the world stage for soccer,” says Glebe Central Pub general manager, David Hania. “I know our fans are really excited about this and I think that’s really going to help the sport grow and also help bring soccer communities together.”
Both Duff and Hania expect the Bank Street tavern to be busy on Wednesday, when Canada takes on Belgium in its first match.
“We will cheer like we’re in the stands for 90 minutes straight! It is going to be standing room only. It’s going to be insane and win, lose or draw, this is about celebrating Canada at the game,” says Duff. “We’re modest in our expectations [of Canada winning] but our enthusiasm for Canada being at the World Cup is triumphantz, so come and join us because it’s going to be spectacular. It’s going to be unreal.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.