Hundreds of Calgary soccer fans cheer Team Canada at watch party on Tsuut’ina Nation
Hundreds of hyped-up Calgary soccer fans gathered for a Team Canada watch party at the Tsuut’ina Seven Chiefs Sportsplex Sunday morning.
Calgary Minor Soccer Association hosted the event as Canada played Croatia in their second group stage match from Qatar at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Fans celebrated early, as 68 seconds in, Canada’s Alphonso Davies, on a magnificent header, scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal.
Carlo Bruneau, executive director with CMSA said that goal will go down in the history books.
“To be here in person, with 700 of our closest friends, definitely a special moment for us,” said Bruneau.
Bruneau added that with the men’s team showcasing themselves on the world stage, the game is growing exponentially year by year.
“Canada is very diverse,” he said.
“It's only a matter of time until soccer takes over as the sport of choice for all Canadians. It truly gives that see it and you can be it feeling.”
The event also hosted members from Cavalry FC.
One of them, midfielder Charlie Trafford, played three games with the national team between 2015-2017.
“It's so cool to see the soccer culture growing, the amount of people coming out the next generation of those kids coming,” said Trafford.
“It's so cool to see kids in Canada jerseys. We were talking about that," Trafford said. "You didn't see that even a couple years ago, so it's a special thing to see that growing.”
Later, fans were much more subdued as Croatia equalized in the latter stages of the first half.
Then, on the brink of halftime, in the 44th minute, Croatia scored again to take a 2-1 lead.
A turning point in the match according to head coach John Herdman.
“The second goal, I thought they were a little bit lucky with that,” he said.
“At 2-1, we are opening ourselves up and again. I was proud of our lads, the way they pushed, but then you're vulnerable, (to) the Croatian counter attack, which is so clinical.”
Croatia added two goals in the second half while the Canadians could not find a way back into the match.
JUBILIATION FOR CALGARY CROATS
Although disappointment for many on Tsuut’ina land, it was jubilation at Limericks Traditional public House on Macleod Trail.
There, the Calgary Croat Sports Club celebrated the Croatian comeback.
“It’s an extra bonus this year that Canada is in it, obviously we were excited for their team as well,” said Croatian fan Frano Cavar.
“It was a bit of a shame they were matched up in the same group, and obviously in a perfect world we would see both teams advance.”
For Limericks co-owner George Kaketsis, the World Cup is what makes his establishment tick.
“The pubs are soccer, and soccer is a big part of what Limericks does,” said Kaketsis.
“These big events, we try to organize it, we specialize in it and we have the capacity for it, so we definitely try to focus in on it.”
The 4-1 defeat ended Canada’s hopes of advancing in the 2022 World Cup. However in 2026, Canada will be a host nation of the world’s largest sporting event, meaning it receives an automatic invitation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion, 1 person seriously injured: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.