'fifa fever': why these vancouver fans flew to houston to cheer on team canada
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back in january, sean freeze bought two $88 tickets for the world cup’s round of 16, hoping against hope that team canada would still be in the mix.
it was far from a sure thing, as the canadian men had never progressed that far during the planet’s largest sporting event.
but freeze thought the scrappy team had “a decent chance,” and he turned out to be right.
on monday, the day after canada beat south africa 1-0 to advance, he planned his trip to houston, where the red-and-white face morocco on saturday.
“it may be the best opportunity we’re going to get to watch canada play at this level,” said north vancouver’s freeze.
“this round of 16 is pretty awesome … this event is exciting and huge and worldly, and great to begin with, but to be able to have your team (advance), especially when this hasn’t been something that’s been accessible to canadians.”
freeze is far from alone. social media platforms dedicated to canadian soccer are full of people heading to houston. and the voyageurs, a national group of canadian soccer superfans, have planned events for friday and saturday for the large contingent of canadian fans in the texan city.
alex kanderka with husband dave at the june 24 canadian game against switzerland at b.c. place. source: alex kanderka
“it’s fifa fever,” said whitecaps season ticket holder alex kanderka, who’s in houston with her husband dave.
they plan to march with their voyageurs group to the houston stadium and sit in the canadian section to support the national team as it battles much-higher-ranked morocco — hoping for an upset.
“you never know in football, and that’s the joy of football. we’re going to put all our heart and soul (into the game) and, you know, we’re so proud of the team,” added kanderka, a fifa volunteer at all seven b.c. place stadium matches in the tournament.
as of late this week, fifa had “limited availability” for the canada-morocco game, with last-minute tickets priced from $2,785 to $4,320 each.
vancouver soccer fan chris wood took a selfie july 1 with former team canada captain atiba hutchinson before flying to houston. source: chris wood
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like freeze, chris wood bought his houston ticket awhile ago for $88, as a member of organizations that support canadian soccer. travel to these games is not cheap though, added wood, who has seen three canadian matches in this tournament, and is now in houston.
his motivation is a “passion” for this sport, and the canadian team in particular.
“maybe it’s not the smartest thing you can do for your bank account, but it’s kind of once-in-a-lifetime,” the kitsilano resident said.
“we’re sort of in this golden period of canadian soccer.”
wood celebrated canada day on wednesday by getting the autograph of former team canada captain atiba hutchinson, who was at jack poole plaza. “it was really cool.”
john kushneryk (left) holds daughter kennedy, 2, while wife cynthia hall holds six-week-old son lincoln at the june 28 canada game against south africa in l.a. source: john kushneryk
john kushneryk feels intense canadian pride when he hears the national anthem played at world cup games — and is feeling prouder than ever this year.
“i never thought canada would qualify in my lifetime,” said the 37-year-old mega supporter.
he was at the qatar world cup in 2022, and has seen canada play this year in toronto, vancouver and los angeles. now he’s in houston with his two-year-old daughter kennedy, and hopes canada will continue to advance.
“she’ll have photos and videos to last a lifetime and is always pointing out the red maple leafs! we have already booked our travel, refundable, to boston … and dallas for the next two rounds.”
dalen brueckner left vancouver on june 26 to follow the canadian team and is still on the road.
while at b.c. place stadium for canada’s june 24 game against switzerland, brueckner met two other superfans, zen watson and sonny voyageur. the new friends then made plans to drive to l.a. to see canada’s june 28 match against south africa.
dalen brueckner (left), zen watson (centre), and sonny voyageur (right) drove from vancouver to la, where they watched canada beat south africa on june 28. source: dalen brueckner
after the l.a. game, watson and voyageur returned to their b.c. homes. but brueckner, who also travelled to qatar in 2022, carried on to houston.
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“i’ve been saving for this since qatar. i love the canadian soccer team and i love the world cup, the way that it brings people together, the way that it unites the world,” he said.
“in my experience at the world cups, like in qatar and here, it doesn’t matter what someone’s political beliefs are, what affiliation, gender, background — it’s just we love soccer.”
brueckner paid $850 for his seat in l.a. and has an $88 supporter ticket for houston. and, eternally optimistic about canada’s chances, he also has a $2,000 ticket for the world cup quarterfinal match on july 9 in boston.
“it’s priceless to see this team and to be a part of it.”
canadian super fan dalen brueckner in the la stadium on june 28. source: dalen brueckner
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