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Soccer World Cup 2026
Makoto Asahara
Published 02.50
TORONTO. The World Cup premiere was played 4,000 kilometers away in Mexico City.
Then Toronto still went on its first “organizer fiasco”.
Fifa’s official supporters’ festival was forced to be abruptly canceled and evacuated due to thunderstorms.
And the weather forecast doesn’t look any better until tomorrow.
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Earlier today in this forum so I questioned how much Canadians actually care about soccer.
With that said is Toronto an incredibly multicultural world metropolis. It’s not just a lot of Maple Leafs fans here.
It was visible if nothing else in Fort York and The Bentway where Fifa’s official supporter festival in Toronto took place.
After all, masses of Mexican (mainly) and South African fans had gathered to watch Thursday’s opener between Mexico and South Africa on the big screen. The tickets, which had to be booked in advance, were completely sold out.
But everything came to an abrupt and snowy end.
In the middle of the match, the broadcast was suddenly interrupted and it was announced that the festival would be evacuated due to the risk of thunder.
A decision which, according to the local media, was not immediately received with understanding and joy by the thousands of fans gathered there.
So when the undersigned drove past the area in the media bus headed for the evening’s press conferences (a considerably more populated bus this time), it was empty of people. After there had previously been over 20,000 people there to see the World Cup premiere.
Snowy was the word.
The weather then? Of course it’s drizzling. Sure, the clouds are dark and the thunder is in the air. Of course, safety must come first regardless of how drastic the decision still feels based on what you know and have seen. And if you are to go by the weather forecasts (and combine that with the strict, North American organizer rules regarding especially thunderstorms) there is undeniably a risk of weather chaos tomorrow as well when soccer is also to be played right here in Toronto between Canada and Bosnia.
“You Europeans will have a hot WC”
Sportbladet raised this very point, well in place for the evening’s press conferences, with Canada’s American national team captain Jesse Marsch.
– All of us in North America are used to this. But you Europeans will probably have a hot WC. And most European teams should be happy that there are more arenas and environments with temperature control, says Marsch.
He continues:
– I remember back to 1994. I actually spoke to “Steph” (Stephen Eustaquio, team captain) about this on the road. So, it will be a hot tournament. And it will affect teams significantly. And we have the advantage of having experience from tournaments like the Copa America and the Gold Cup. As much as it is a physical challenge, it is also a mental one. And if there are interruptions in matches, you need to stay focused until you step out of the dressing room again. Because the next moment is always the most important. We are used to it. We expect it to be warm tomorrow. But we are ready.
“The arena will be red tomorrow”
Another question is how many Canadians will actually be there in the historic World Cup premiere on home ground for the Canadian part.
After all, Bosnian information has abounded about 30,000 Bosnians in Toronto.
Data that Canada was asked about on the press conference podium.
– If that is what happens tomorrow, we will be able to handle it. But I think the Canadians will be there and be loud, says team captain and midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, before national team captain Jesse Marsch, with a serious look in his eyes, adds.
– The arena will be red tomorrow. Not blue.
Otherwise, Marsch and Eustaquio received many questions about the pressure on the host nation from domestic media. And in the end, Marsch couldn’t take it anymore and made a fiery speech.
– We are used to being in this situation. We know what this is. And if you do this, this is where you want to be. I came to Canada as a coach to do it in a home World Cup. I wanted this responsibility. Nobody here is afraid of that. Yes, there is pressure and responsibility. But I love sitting on the coach’s bench, with full stands, maximum pressure and with everyone who thinks you’re an idiot. That’s what I love, says the former Leeds coach.
Lifts the Swedes as his sons
After the Canadians, it was Bosnian national team captain Sergej Barbarez’s turn to step onto the podium.
He favors host nation Canada and admits he thrives on a “David vs. Goliath” narrative. Confirms the availability of veteran and icon Edin Dzeko without then wanting to use words to praise him too much (as he believes that words are not enough). And then he lifts a trio of Swedes as his own sons when he is asked by the Swedish media representative on the spot about what they meant to this team.
– When we started these discussions with the players who were not born in Bosnia, we asked them one thing. I look them in the eyes and ask: “do you want to play for Bosnia Herzegovina”. That’s all I ask. And you can see if they want it. Sometimes players just want it because they are interested in playing national team football. Sometimes for their love and pride. That is the only requirement I have, says Barbarez and continues:
– All these guys we brought in. I call them my sons. Because I love them. And they return that love. They should be proud to play for Bosnia regardless of where they were born.
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