Canada’s national side saw its World Cup hopes dim when a 1‑1 draw with Switzerland eliminated any chance of a knockout match on home soil, but the squad is now bound for Los Angeles where they will meet South Africa in the round of 32.
The players have not forgotten the roar that greeted them in Toronto, where thousands of supporters marched to the stadium for the opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, creating an atmosphere the team described as electric.
That goodwill is set against a backdrop of growing tension between Canada and the United States. President Donald Trump has slapped tariffs on Canadian goods and has taken to calling Prime Minister Mark Carney ‘governor’, a move that has spurred boycotts of U.S. products and a reluctance among many Canadians to travel south.
A trans‑border rally
Fans who have weathered political friction are now planning cross‑border trips, hoping the stadium lights in California will echo the passion they felt at home.