Edmonton school hosts World Cup watch party to cheer on hometown hero Alphonso Davies

It was a moment some Canadian soccer fans said they had been waiting their whole lives for: to see their country in the World Cup.

At viewing parties across the country on Wednesday, fans gathered to cheer on the national team as it made its first appearance in the international soccer tournament since 1986.

Morgan Stacey, who wasn’t born when Canada was last in the World Cup, said it feels “pretty amazing” to cheer on Team Canada.

“This is the first time in my life that I have ever seen them compete in this tournament,” he said. “I’m pretty excited!”

Stacey, 28, was among at least 150 people who watched Canada take on Belgium at the Burgundy Lion Pub in Montreal.

“We’ve been waiting for this day for so long,” said Tristan Scandar, 23, who traveled to personally cheer on the Canadian team at a qualifying match against Honduras. “Many Canadians have been waiting a long time. So, let’s hope we do well today.”

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Football fans are up early for World Cup at King’s Head Pub

As Canada prepared to take a penalty early in the game, fans were on the edge of their seats, whooping and hollering as star winger Alphonso Davies lined up for the shot. The excitement turned to dismay when the Belgian goalkeeper stopped the effort.

For some fans, including members of Montreal’s large Belgian community, there were divided loyalties. Noel Fourcroy (42), a Belgian who has lived in Montreal for 15 years, said he was looking for his homeland.

“I’m pretty excited. It is a very unique moment because it is my country of origin and my country of adoption. It’s a curious mixture. I admit I am staying with Belgium today, but I would be very happy to follow Canada after that,” said Fourcroy.

At St. Nicholas Catholic Junior High in Edmonton, where Davies attended and played in the school’s soccer academy, students filled a gym where the Canadian star usually played to cheer on their favorite alumnus.

A giant screen was set up and the children joined the team on the screen in a raucous rendition of O Canada. A giant drum, like the one that brings the team out at the end of the games, boomed along.

Malik McDonald, 13, a student at the football academy who plays as a striker, admitted he sometimes models himself after Davies.

“It’s incredible to think that someone from Edmonton, Alberta, to St. Nic’s going and making it at such a high level with such great footballers. It just inspires me that I can do the same,” he said.

Mary Mahe, another St. Nicholas student, said watching someone from her school on the world’s biggest soccer stage is inspiring.

“It’s really motivating because someone in my own position has gone so far in their career, it gives you hope that you can do it, if you try hard enough.”

In downtown Toronto, where dozens of fans stood in front of big screens at an electronics store in the Eaton Centre, recent upsets at the tournament gave fans hope.

Mohammad Ali, who watched the match with friends, said if Saudi Arabia can beat Argentina and Japan can beat Germany, Canada can also beat Belgium.

“I think we’re winning the whole thing,” he said. “I love the team too much and I love the country too much to say anyone else will beat us.”

Rob Harris, another fan, said even though Belgium is the favorite, the Canadian team may have luck on its side.

“I do think they can win it,” he said. “Canada was lucky enough to get into the game, to get into the World Cup, the fact that they got into the World Cup means they’re a lucky team.”

Belgium are currently favored to win Group F, which also includes 2018 finalists Croatia and Morocco, ranked 22nd in the world. However, it will be without its star striker Romelu Lukaku, who has not played a game in almost a month due to a thigh injury.

Canada is 41st in the FIFA rankings while Belgium is second.

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