Like so many of us, I was lucky enough to be born in Canada and was able to grow up with a fantastic sense of community and love, whether it was in school, through family or through sport. When you think of Canada, you think of the cold winters, the maple syrup, the funny accents and of course, hockey.
Having being born so close to the American border, I grew up in love with the classic North American sports. I was holding a hockey stick within months of entering this world, I attended baseball games and watched my historically disappointing Detroit Lions every Sunday.
Growing up in Canada in the early 2000's, soccer was never a sport I really cared for. I hardly knew many who played, I hardly (if ever) watched on TV and I never would have imagined that it would bring me the joy that it has on a day like today.
Outside of hockey, a sport we call ours, we cannot really compete at a high level internationally, especially when it comes to facing our neighbours to the south. In basketball we are on the rise, in football we don't stand a chance, but finally, after so many years we find ourselves front and centre in a fierce and competitive rivalry in a sport we all thought was reserved for July and August.
I started to become a fan of soccer in my teenage years, captivated by the unity of club & fans, a sense of pride and pain with every result. The typical sports fan in Canada would disregard soccer, calling it boring and soft, and to some extent I can agree. But something kept bringing me back.
As a supporter of Tottenham Hostpur and the Canadian National Team, my entry years into the soccer world were dreadful. Losses racking up, no hope in sight, yet something about this sport continues to draw you back in. The fans, the chants, the passion, the fact that a game can be decided by one kick of the ball, regardless of how the rest of the game has been going.
Flash forward to 2020 and things begin to change. The world is struck by uncertainty as the Covid-19 pandemic rocks us all, but one thing was there waiting for us with open arms, dying for a chance to return: sports.
As we all know, our country, and humanity as a whole is more divided than it has ever been in my lifetime. An uncertainty revolving around a virus, differing opinions on vaccine statuses and increasing tensions regarding race and sexual relations not only here in North America, but worldwide.
As Canada continues to work through day to day difficulties of this changing political and social landscape, there is one thing that can bring us all together, and that one thing is the Canadian National Team. It will be 8 years going on 12 since the last time our Olympic hockey team has taken the ice to represent our country. Gone are the days of Crosby's golden goal, or Eberle's last second equalizer against the Russians in the 2009 World Junior Championships. We used to bond over frozen ponds and a fresh sheet of ice, but now we are coming together once again on the soccer pitch.
I remember getting together with friends to watch the Canadian soccer team play relatively meaningless games against lower end countries and struggling for results, leaving me wondering whether or not we would ever see the day where our country could bond over "the beautiful game".
Here we are, just hours after one of the biggest soccer games in this country's history, and all I can think about is how far we have come. Thinking about being in this phase of qualifying, let alone top of the group through 10 matches, was a pipe dream to say the least. Here we are now, with a pair of wins against *former* CONCACAF giants, USA & Mexico, and we are on the cusp of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup as the best North American team.
My dad, for one, has never been a soccer fan, but he now asks me questions and smiles when he hears the success this team is having, and the joy he sees on my face when talking about the Canadian National Team. I see it in the crowds at our home matches. We have to limit capacity due to covid, we have to wear masks at the games, but when you look around you see people from all corners of this country and the world, bonding over a sport that we never thought would bring us so much joy.
As we enter the last 4 games of World Cup Qualifying, remember this feeling, cherish these memories, and allow soccer to distract you from all the other crap going on in the world, even if it is only for 90 minutes. You may hate soccer, you may hate the odd dive and the instances of time wasting, but if you look beyond that we are facing real life challenges and we have a group of 11 men who give their all every match for their country, our country, Canada.
The world is taking notice now, we are no longer just hoping to qualify, we want to finish first, we want to win this phase of qualifying, and we want to go as far as we can in Qatar next winter. So I encourage you to tune in, feel the sense of inclusion, feel the pride of this country and continue to wear the red and white proud. There may be a handful of things you dislike about this country at the moment, I feel the same way, but when the whistle goes and the ball is kicked off, this country comes together like I have never seen it before.
I hope you tag along and enjoy this ride because this is only the beginning, we have fantastic young talents and we are a joint host of the 2026 World Cup, lets keep this momentum going and use this team as a reason to keep fighting through the bad days. When we grew up in this country, we were so proud to be Canadian, and although this pride may have faded, give yourself a second chance and follow this team to Qatar later this year.
In times like these, I have never been prouder to be a Canadian.
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