Canada Soccer House at The Shipyards in North Vancouver was packed on June 12 for a viewing party as Canada took on Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup. The atmosphere inside the covered pavilion swung from roaring, anthem-singing highs to anxious silence and back to eruptive joy, as hundreds of fans decked out in red-and-white watched Canada secure its first-ever World Cup point.
A Historic Draw
Canada's 1-1 finish against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto marked a milestone for the host nation. Spectator Bardia Malackzadeh commented, "Canada could have been more clinical, they could have won this by two or three goals. But I'm still happy they got the draw. Even one point can give us enough to advance."
Festive Atmosphere at The Shipyards
The venue filled up through the morning, with fans claiming red, white, and yellow chairs, settling onto the concrete floor in front of the big screen, and lining the upper deck overlooking the waterfront. Babies were dressed in red shirts stamped with maple leaves. Couples wore matching jerseys, and the No. 19 Canadian star Alphonso Davies — sidelined with an injury — was everywhere. Fans climbed raised podiums to film the screen and snap selfies with the crowd behind them, beers and iced coffees in hand.
Fans from Near and Far
Richard Carr had flown in from Calgary for the weekend with friends, catching the Canada opener before Saturday's Australia versus Turkey match. He turned up with four beers balanced in his hands and a cape fashioned from a white flag with a red cross. He picked Vancouver over Toronto for the proximity, the friends he has in town, and the weather. "So far, it's awesome," Carr said.
Another fan with a Canadian flag over her shoulders was Jade Vaughan, who grew up in Vancouver, lived in Hawaii for 15 years, and moved back to Canada just before the tournament. "I love Canada and Vancouver is so amazing," Vaughan said. "I'm really proud that we're having this here. The city's done such a good job, there's so much pride."
Mixed Loyalties and New Friends
As the opening ceremony began and the flags of competing nations were carried out onscreen, the pavilion's mood lifted. One woman, Patricia, originally from Portugal and in Canada more than a decade, said she was happy to cheer for both countries. "I come from Europe, where we do bigger-scale (sport) events, so I wish there was a little bit more," she said. "But it's still very good."
Eydi Abdolkhani, a Vancouver local, could barely contain himself. "This is the best day," Abdolkhani said. "Canada is playing, and this will be our win — the sweetest one, because it's the first one."
A group of five Australian friends had come over for the Australia games and wandered into Canada House to soak up the atmosphere, picking up a North Vancouver local along the way. "We're loving the vibe," said Henry Toczydlowski, who is in Canada for the first time. "We're just trying to embrace the World Cup fever." His friend Dylan Hopkins noted that North Vancouver reminded him of home, and the group was already looking ahead to Australia's match against Turkey on Saturday, then games in Seattle and San Jose, California. "The people are lovely," Hopkins said. "I love that they let you cross the road even when you're not at the crossing."
Roar of the Crowd
When the Canadian team walked out, the place erupted — whistling, clapping, and with a roar that rolled across the waterfront. Fans sang the national anthem alongside the broadcast, celebrating a historic moment for Canadian soccer.
