Soccer

Soccer

NSL PHOTO Ottawa Rapid goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais punches the ball away during NSL action.

Around the NSL: Rapid on top; Battle for second; Week 11 kicks off Saturday

Grace Anne Paizen 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:36 PM CDT

IT’S footy mayhem in this country at the moment.

Between covering the relentless men’s FIFA World Cup schedule and making time to watch the Northern Super League, yours truly has had a whirlwind three weeks (with 16 more days to go).

This edition is brief, but here are storylines from the week that was around the NSL.

Highlight of the week

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Soccer

ASHLEY LANDIS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Two very different clubs will hit the pitch Saturday since the last time the two sides met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Jonathan Osorio is one of the players for the Canadian side who started the match three-and-a-half years ago.

Canada gets its chance ‘to go after a giant’

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

Canada gets its chance ‘to go after a giant’

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:49 PM CDT

A very different Canada will take on Morocco in today’s World Cup rematch (12 p.m., TSN & CTV). Different in personnel; different in preparation. And very, very different in what it expects of itself.

Three-and-a-half years ago, the Canadian men’s soccer team wrapped up its group stage campaign with a 2-1 loss to the Moroccans in Qatar. Having already been beaten by Belgium and Croatia, it caught the next flight home. The Atlas Lions, meanwhile, roared into the semifinals.

Now, three-and-a-half years might not seem all that long, but when Canada takes the pitch just prior to noon in Houston its lineup will include two, possibly three players — tops — who started that game at Al Thumama Stadium.

Goalkeeper Milan Borjan has since retired from the national team, and defender Steven Vitória is assistant manager of Indonesia.

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Yesterday at 2:49 PM CDT

Soccer

NSL PHOTO Vancouver Rise’s Morgan McAslan makes a save on Thursday against the Halifax Tides.

Around the NSL: Goalie clinics; first career goals; Wild have life

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: Goalie clinics; first career goals; Wild have life

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Is there such a thing as an exciting draw? Yes. Did it happen three times this past week in the Northern Super League? Absolutely.

An early Week 9 kicked off in Halifax last Thursday in the first of three goalie clinics that led to three 1-1 draws by Sunday evening.

While the draws meant there was no movement in the Week 9 standings, it was a promising week for all six clubs around the league.

Here’s another look back at the week that was around the NSL.

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Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Opinion

ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Just eight of the World Cup’s 48 teams entirely native-born. From left: Brampton’s Promise David, Nigerian-born, Mississauga product Tani Oluwaseyi, Toronto product Ali Ahmed and Langley, B.C., product Joel Waterman practise at Team Canada’s Friday camp.

World Cup a mosaic of the human experience

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

World Cup a mosaic of the human experience

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

On June 13, the third day of the ongoing World Cup, Morocco played more than a quarter of its Group C match against Brazil without a single Moroccan-born footballer on the pitch.

Instead, the starting eleven deployed by manager Mohamed Ouahbi between the 64th and 89th minutes included players from Belgium, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Canada. (Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was born in Montreal.) Ouahbi, himself, hails from metropolitan Brussels.

According to the BBC, nearly 25 per cent of the players at this tournament were born in countries other than the ones they’re representing.

One of the more prominent examples of this experience is Luca Zidane.

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Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Soccer

CARRIE SERWETNYK PHOTO Canadian superfans Les Voyageurs make their way to BC Place with a massive “Allez les Rouges” on Wednesday for the Canada-Switzerland match.

Despite loss, Canada continues to make historic firsts

Carrie Serwetnyk 5 minute read Preview

Despite loss, Canada continues to make historic firsts

Carrie Serwetnyk 5 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2026

The question coming into the Canada-Switzerland game was: is Team Canada’s success in this year’s tournament a fluke?

It kept echoing through my mind.

The team achieved its first World Cup point with a tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Then came a resounding and historic first win, the 6-0 victory against 56th-ranked Qatar — still the only host team in World Cup history to not win a game. And Maxime Crépeau gave the team its first shutout.

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Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2026

Opinion

Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press Canada manager Jesse Marsch sits on the sideline during the first half of the Canada-Switzerland match on Wednesday. A change of field formation for Canada would go a long way in Canada’s bid to continue to the Round of 16 and beyond.

Push for Canada came too late: Shame if country’s historic bid died on hill of principle

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

Push for Canada came too late: Shame if country’s historic bid died on hill of principle

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2026

This is already a historic World Cup for Canada’s men’s national soccer team.

First point? Check. First win? Check. First progression to the knockout rounds? Check. All of it on home soil, no less.

And yet, for all that, it also risks being a big disappointment. It can be both things at once.

To say that Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Switzerland complicated the Canadian campaign would be an understatement. A win or draw in Vancouver would have secured top spot in Group B and a Round of 32 match — as well as a prospective Round of 16 encounter — in the same city.

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Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2026

Opinion

Greed outshines ‘the Beautiful Game’

Bernice Pontanilla 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 20, 2026

There has always been an unspoken agreement between FIFA and soccer/football/fútbol fans when it comes to the World Cup: FIFA tacitly acknowledged the cost of travelling to a host country to follow a team, as well as the travel between host cities to follow said team, and ticket prices to games were held in check.

When I went to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, I paid about $2,500 for the flights to Johannesburg, but the tickets were priced reasonably, so I was able to attend three matches, including a round of 16 match between Mexico and Argentina, truly an unforgettable experience.

The ticket to that memorable match was the most expensive one I paid for: $400. Adjusted for inflation, it would now be $610.

That pilgrimage to the 2010 World Cup was decades in the making, as my parents are from Chile. They were kids when the World Cup was held in that country in 1962. My Dad told me many stories about that World Cup.

Soccer

NSL PHOTO Halifax Tides’ Julia Benati (second from left) had a beauty of bending boot last Saturday in the club’s 2-0 shutout of the Calgary Wild.

Around the NSL: Bending it like Benati; Calgary’s collapse; Rapid and Roses still on top

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: Bending it like Benati; Calgary’s collapse; Rapid and Roses still on top

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

Welcome back to the View from Row Z, Northern Super League superfans!

While yours truly has been caught up in all things FIFA World Cup since the men’s tournament kicked off June 11 during the NSL’s well-deserved bye week, Week 8 kicked off two days later with a doubleheader last Saturday.

Get your footy-lingo hats on and let’s take a look back at the storylines from last weekend.

Highlight of the week

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Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

Soccer

Carrie Serwetnyk photo Fans give the thumbs up in Vancouver after Canada’s historic first World Cup win. Over 52,000 fans packed in to BC Place to watch the match between Canada and Qatar.

Vancouver festivities spilled into the streets after Canada’s historic first men’s win

Carrie Serwetnyk 7 minute read Preview

Vancouver festivities spilled into the streets after Canada’s historic first men’s win

Carrie Serwetnyk 7 minute read Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

The soccer gods finally smiled down on team Canada Thursday as the home side hammered Qatar 6-0. To boot, it was the first win in World Cup history by Canada’s men.

What a spectacle. Over 52,000 fans, most donning the Maple Leaf, got their money’s worth — and that’s saying something given the ticket prices — as Canada put shot after shot on net at Vancouver Stadium.

It was a dream come true.

Canada came out strong, was up by three goals and a man at halftime — after Homan Ahmed was shown a red card — then cruised to victory on the back of a Jonathan David hat trick — another first for Canada at a World Cup.

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Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

Soccer

Ashley Landis / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cristiano Ronaldo did not score the lone goal for Portugal in the country’s Group K opener on Wednesday in Houston, Texas.

The Ronaldo debate continues

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

The Ronaldo debate continues

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

It is dividing families, splitting cities and carving a nation in two. There’s a generational component and, because it’s a 21st century matter, an online venue. International observers are being asked to pick a side.

Should Cristiano Ronaldo start Portugal’s upcoming match against Uzbekistan?

Some facts to consider: Ronaldo is the all-time top goalscorer in men’s international football; his international goals-per-match average is better than Lionel Messi’s; he’s won five Ballons d’Or and has claimed top-player honours in England, Spain and Italy; 10 years ago he captained his country to a first European Championship.

That’s the argument, or most of it, in the Verde-e-Brancos parts of Lisbon, among the highest and lowest age categories of Seleção supporters, and in Portugal’s central and southern regions, generally speaking.

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Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

Soccer

Abbie Parr / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Jonathan David’s (left) teammates celebrate his hat trick in Vancouver on Thursday. Canada’s 6-0 route of Qatar made history as no CONCACAF team has scored more than four goals in a single game at the World Cup.

Midfielder’s injury gives Canada a greater purpose to succeed

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

Midfielder’s injury gives Canada a greater purpose to succeed

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Some important questions needed answering in Canada’s second game of the 2026 World Cup. Well, consider them answered. And how.

Perhaps the most practical query involved striker Jonathan David, whose disappointing club season at Juventus seemed to seep into the national team’s Group B opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

After his early substitution in Toronto, would he start in Vancouver?

The answer: yes.

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Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Soccer

CARRIE SERWENTYK PHOTO Canadian fans marched in a sea of red and white to Toronto Stadium Friday.

Toronto thrilled by first World Cup game on home soil

Carrie Serwetnyk 5 minute read Preview

Toronto thrilled by first World Cup game on home soil

Carrie Serwetnyk 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

TORONTO — It’s only appropriate Canada’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place in the nation’s largest city. It is the World Cup, after all.

The colossal tournament, held simultaneously in Mexico and the United States, kicked off at Toronto Stadium Friday under a bright blue sky.

And it was a thriller.

A raucous crowd of 43,000 fans, most sporting red and white, turned out to see a 1-1 draw between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

Soccer

Kevin Sousa / REUTERS Canada’s Cyle Larin’s tying goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina Friday gave life to co-host’s knock-out round push.

Canadian men have momentum in Group B after late Larin goal

Jerrad Peters 4 minute read Preview

Canadian men have momentum in Group B after late Larin goal

Jerrad Peters 4 minute read Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

It was a draw that felt like a win.

Had Canada lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina Friday afternoon, its home World Cup would not have been guaranteed beyond next week.

Instead, the pressure is a little bit less. And in a tournament where margins matter, less is preferable to more.

Just contemplate what almost was.

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Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

Soccer

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Mark Seburn, who was enjoying the Canada-Bosnia and Herzegovina soccer match at X-Cues’ Café & Lounge Friday afternoon, says the sport has helped bring his family together.

Winnipeg fans celebrate Canada’s first point at World Cup — on home soil

Tiago Resko 3 minute read Preview

Winnipeg fans celebrate Canada’s first point at World Cup — on home soil

Tiago Resko 3 minute read Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

Winnipeg soccer fans groaned as Bosnia and Herzegovina took the early lead against Canada at the FIFA World Cup Friday afternoon.

“It’s the way it goes” said Mark Seburn, 67, one of a few dozen footy fanatics who were getting their game on at X-Cues’ Café and Lounge.

It was Canada’s first match on home soil — at Toronto Stadium.

“It’s a special moment,” Seburn said, noting he got into the sport when his children played as youngsters. He said soccer has brought their family closer together.

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Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

Soccer

Moises Castillo / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Spain is one of the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup. But even if the team cruises to a Group H win, history tells a different tale about tourney juggernauts. Thomas Padilla / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Head coach Didier Deschamps (right) looks to lead World Cup co-favourite Kylian Mbappé (left) and France to football’s promised land.

May the best team win… maybe

Jerrad Peters 7 minute read Preview

May the best team win… maybe

Jerrad Peters 7 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 10, 2026

The best team doesn’t always win the World Cup.

The Netherlands knows this; Hungary, too. And Brazil, the only country with five stars on its shirt, might be forgiven for wanting seven.

Those are the most famous examples, and we’ll get to them. But a number of others deserve recognition as well — none of it detracting from the teams that actually lifted the trophy.

Like Austria, for example.

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Wednesday, Jun. 10, 2026

Opinion

Arlyn McAdorey / THE CANADIAN PRESS FIFA World Cup 2026 branding is displayed on city hall during a men’s World Cup trophy tour event at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto.

Beautiful game’s big price tag: soccer fans face record ticket costs for World Cup

Joel Schlesinger 6 minute read Preview

Beautiful game’s big price tag: soccer fans face record ticket costs for World Cup

Joel Schlesinger 6 minute read Saturday, Jun. 6, 2026

The world’s soccer fans will converge on Toronto and Vancouver in a few days for the start of the 2026 men’s World Cup, revelling in the euphoria (and deep disappointment) that often is endemic to the planet’s premier sporting event.

Undoubtedly, many hope to scream “goal” as their favoured nation scores and clinches a victory. Yet the biggest winner is arguably FIFA, the global organization running the World Cup and other vaunted soccer events.

The non-profit is forecast to rake in more than $10 billion from the event, double that of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

What’s more, Canada — with Toronto and Vancouver as host cities — is expected to see an additional $3.8 billion in economic activity from the event.

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Saturday, Jun. 6, 2026

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