Canada’s World Cup success fuels pride in Halifax soccer fans

As Team Canada prepares to suit up for the FIFA World Cup’s knockout round, Haligonians are loudly showcasing their support for their men’s national team.

During game days, bars and restaurants across the city transform into energetic watch parties full of Haligonians supporting the country’s third World Cup appearance. 

Despite losing their final group stage match 2-1 against Switzerland on June 24, Canada’s 1-1-1 record in the group stage clinches the club’s ticket to the knockout round of 32. The club is slated to play South Africa in a do-or-die elimination game on June 28 in Los Angeles, California. 

Around 300 fans attended a viewing of Canada’s 6-0 victory against Qatar, hosted by Canada Soccer House at the Grafton Street Beer Garden. The blowout was the country’s first-ever win in the World Cup and took place on home soil in Vancouver, B.C. 

Nearly a hundred fans who weren’t able to be seated inside the beer garden watched from the sidewalk, peering over the fence surrounding the beer garden to witness Canada’s first World Cup victory. 

Ethan Tam, a Dalhousie University alum from Vancouver, was one of these fans. 

“It’s not many times you get a chance to be with your fellow countrymen and just celebrate something that we’re all [cheering on] together,” says Tam. “We all come from different backgrounds, so when we come together and watch this one game, that’s really a beautiful thing.”

Nadem Zawaideh, a lifelong Canadian soccer fan, says that his fellow Canadians will be talking about this performance for generations to come. 

“Seeing all these people sharing my love for the game, the love for the country — it’s unifying,” he says. “People are going to highlight [Canada’s game against Qatar] as the crown jewel of this team.” 

Ben Thompson, a fourth-year medical science student from Halifax and striker for the Dalhousie Tigers men’s soccer team, says that soccer has grown across the country, giving young athletes more role models to inspire their young careers. 

“When I was growing up, Canada never qualified for the World Cup,” Thompson says. “The kids who get to grow up now and get to see that just helps grow the game so much in our country.”

Nova Scotians watching the World Cup have reason to feel extra proud to cheer on Canada’s early tournament success. 

Jacob Shaffelburg, raised in Port Williams, N.S., became the first player from the province to suit up for the red and white in the World Cup in Canada’s debut game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Shaffelburg is a seven-year veteran of Major League Soccer. He is currently playing for Los Angeles FC. 

Thompson says Shaffelburg’s contribution to Canada’s success gives young players in the province someone to look up to. 

“For people to see local guys be able to make it [professionally] gives a lot of hope that young players can eventually get to that stage through hard work,” he says. 

Matt Holton, the director of soccer development for Soccer Nova Scotia, says that the tournament has brought new attention to the sport in the province. 

“Soccer’s been growing in Canada, definitely in Nova Scotia over the last number of years anyway, but to have a World Cup here has kind of really accelerated the growth,” Holton says.

Holton previously coached Shaffelburg when he played for Nova Scotia’s U13 soccer club. He views the midfielder as an incredible athlete who always looks forward to giving back to his community through hosting training camps whenever he’s back in Nova Scotia.

“He inspires the young kids to want to go on and emulate what he’s done,” Holton says.