For years, Vancouver's World Cup story was told through construction updates, budget concerns, security plans and traffic warnings. At BC Place on Thursday afternoon, for Canada's second World Cup match on home soil and first in Vancouver, it was defined by something far more fun: Goals. Lots of them.
Historic Victory for Canada
Canada routed Qatar 6-0, with a hat trick from Jonathan David and goals from Cyle Larin, Nathan Saliba and Jacob Shaffelburg, sending the sold-out stadium into celebration. Chants of "Canada! Canada!" thundered through the seats as jubilant spectators cheered, hugged, and exchanged high-fives, celebrating the national men's team's first World Cup victory.
"I feel so proud of our team being on the world stage," said Susanne Milner, who took the afternoon off work after scoring a last-minute $600 ticket to the game in the hopes of witnessing a historic win for Canada. "It's great to be at home and cheering them on with other fans. It feels like one big community."
High Stakes on the Field
The stakes on the field were high: Canada and Qatar each earned their first-ever World Cup point in their opening matches — Canada against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar against Switzerland. Thursday's match offered both countries a chance to claim their first World Cup win.
Pre-Game Excitement
The excitement surrounding the game began long before kickoff. Hours earlier, soccer fans, including members of Canada's national supporters group The Voyageurs, flooded the Last Mile as they marched toward BC Place. National pride was on full display, with Canadian flags mounted on hockey sticks bobbing above the crowd and bursts of red smoke billowing overhead. Supporters beat drums, danced and sang, and broke into impromptu chants.
Joe Chan, who moved to Vancouver two years ago, said he was surprised by the scale of the crowds. "Soccer is huge in Europe. In Asia. Not that big in North America. But it's growing. You can see how playing on home soil really brings out the fans and the atmosphere. It's really great to see here in Canada," said Chan.
Young Fans Inspired
Nahili Mohamed, 9, and her brother Nayad, 10, skipped school in Victoria to experience Canada's first men's World Cup match in Vancouver. They were excited to see their favourite soccer player Ali Ahmed, the former Vancouver Whitecap who started at midfield for Canada Thursday. Their father, Jibril Mohamed, said he wanted his children to witness a moment they might never see again. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said outside BC Place before the game started. "I brought them to inspire them." Nayad, who plays centre midfield for a youth team in Victoria, already has bigger dreams. "I want to play for Canada when I grow up," he said.
Warm Welcome for Qatari Fans
Omar Alzubaidy and his family were among the small contingent of Qatari supporters making their way to the stadium. Their maroon-and-white outfits stood out amid a sea of red-and-white, but Alzubaidy said they had been warmly received by fellow fans. "Everybody is so hospitable, saying good luck and wanting to shake our hands and give us high-fives," said Alzubaidy, a Port Coquitlam resident who used to live in Qatar's capital city, Doha. "Because really this is what the sport is about."
