Big World Cup win raises odds of Team Canada knockout matches in Vancouver

VANCOUVER – Canada’s resounding World Cup win over Qatar doesn’t just put the team in the driver’s seat to advance in the tournament for the first time — it raises the prospect of even more Team Canada action in Vancouver.

If Canada wins or draws against Switzerland at BC Place next Wednesday, it means the stadium will also host a knockout match for the home side on July 2.

And if they win again, BC Place would also host Team Canada on July 7 in the round of 16.

Those matches could be among the biggest sporting events Vancouver has ever hosted on the international stage, alongside the 2010 Olympic gold medal hockey matches — although soccer’s truly global scale would potentially give them even more reach.

Granville Street was still buzzing Friday with fans in packed bars and patios watching Australia play the United States.

Fan Jorge Candia was with his family on the entertainment strip that has been closed to traffic for the duration of the tournament.

He said it would be “epic” if Team Canada was in the knockout matches at BC Place.

“It will be wonderful for the community, for the local people to experience,” said the Vancouver Island resident.

Before Wednesday’s Canada-Switzerland game, Vancouver hosts a group-stage match on Sunday between Egypt, featuring superstar Mohamed Salah, and New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said Friday he was hoarse from cheering on Canada in their 6-0 rout of Qatar on Thursday and he was among those hoping for more home-team matches in Vancouver.

“We were hoping for a win and the team delivered beyond what any of us expected and of course now we just expect and want more,” he said at an unrelated news conference.

“And so, we’re really gonna be cheering super loud against Switzerland (and) wanting more games in Vancouver with Team Canada.”

He said the atmosphere in Vancouver was electric, and the province wanted more.

Lifelong soccer fan Jeff Deere from Calgary watched Canada’s historic victory on Thursday, and said it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. 

Deere, who was also on Granville Street on Friday, said he would be watching the knockout matches back home, and had high hopes for Team Canada.

“They just have to play like they played yesterday, and I think they’ll do very well,” added Deere. 

Vancouver police said there were large crowds “all over the city” after Thursday’s match.

They said four people on the Granville entertainment strip were taken to jail for public intoxication and six for breaching the peace, while six people were “ejected” from BC Place, three of them for intoxication.

“Overall, with the amount of people around Vancouver, police found the crowds peaceful and celebratory,” the department said in a statement on Friday.

Transit operator TransLink said ridership on its system was the highest on Thursday since early 2020.

It said there were more than 1.36 million boardings, an 18 per cent increase compared with a typical Thursday.

Boardings at the Bridgeport Canada Line Station were up more than 37 per cent from normal, the highest across the system.

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Fans have been encouraged to take transit to games, since major roads around the stadium are shut.

Candia’s wife, Karie Candia, said Vancouver hosting the FIFA World Cup made her proud, and it was an emotional experience to see soccer bring the world closer. 

“Watching what was happening here in Vancouver, watching what was happening in Mexico, and what was happening in other parts of the world, it really has become such a global event that I think that we’ve never felt hard enough,” she said. 

“Get rid of the politicians and let the people just cheer on the game, right? And they really unified everybody.” 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2024.