Canadian fans and visitors have flocked to Toronto and Vancouver for the World Cup, bringing a festive atmosphere to the host cities. Toronto's Front Street thrummed with energy as crowds gathered ahead of matches, with jerseys from Croatia, Panama, Brazil, and Scotland seen among the throng. A Croatian fan even scolded a vendor for not selling Croatia merchandise, declaring, "Croatia! Gonna win today!"
Canada's Unique Position as First-Time Host
Of the three World Cup hosts in 2026, Canada is the only one staging the tournament for the first time. While the United States (second time) and Mexico (third time) have previous experience, Canada's potential upside is far higher. Local soccer officials hope this World Cup can be transformative, giving the sport the kind of boost the US got in 1994.
"This World Cup is our coming out party," said Tosaint Ricketts, a former Canada forward now with the Vancouver Whitecaps. "The stakes are massive."
Building on Recent Momentum
The Canadian Soccer Association is emerging from decades of dysfunction. After the men's team returned to the World Cup in 2022 for the first time since 1986, and the women's team won three straight Olympic medals (including gold in 2020), momentum is building. Ricketts noted, "Over the years, we've gone through our fair bit of controversy, but that is all behind us and now we're steady on the path of growth."
Legacy Beyond the Tournament
The World Cup promises an inflection point for soccer in Canada, a nation dominated by hockey. James Johnson, commissioner of the Canadian Premier League (CPL), said, "The biggest opportunity is not just the five weeks hosting and participating in the tournament. It's really in the legacy that the tournament leaves behind, which can be transformational for soccer in this country."
Soccer is already the most participated-in sport in Canada, with over a million participants. The next step is attracting corporate investment and improving infrastructure. "What the World Cup does is allow all of this progress to be sustainable," Ricketts added.
National Team Performance Key
Canada's men's team has already made history, earning their first World Cup point, win, and knockout-round appearance. Sunday's win over South Africa in the round of 32 keeps them in the tournament for at least six more days. "The legacy for a sport is very heavily influenced by the performance of the national team," said Johnson. "The longer the host nation stays in the tournament, the deeper the connection new fans have with the sport."
Inspiring the Next Generation
Ricketts emphasized the inspirational impact: "All this history is going to create a legacy and inspire the next generation. Kids are going to talk about this for the next four years and beyond."
The CPL and the newly formed Northern Super League (Canada's first professional women's soccer league) aim to capitalize on the World Cup's long tail. Johnson asked, "How can we position the CPL as really the legacy story of the 2026 World Cup, just as Major League Soccer was the legacy story coming out of the 1994 World Cup?"
With the foundation now in place, Canadian soccer looks to a bright future. "It really feels like we have the foundation now to really grow and take this game even further in Canada," Ricketts concluded. "We've been in it for a while, but it really feels like it's just the beginning."
