Germany vs. Ivory Coast live: Late goal gets Germans back into World Cup knockout stage; Pandemonium inside Toronto Stadium

If you are a World Cup fan, chances are you support soccer because you love your country, because you have no country, because you’ve adopted a country.

You celebrate because once you were alone and playing the game, watching the game, cheering the game, and it made you part of something bigger: a squad, a neighbourhood, a marriage, 50,000 people in a stadium, lost in the beauty of sport and the thrill of competition.

You love it for the stories your parents told you; that you will tell your children; that they will tell their children.

That Cristiano Ronaldo could jump nine feet into the air, and hang there, before nodding, as if greeting a king, at a soccer ball, driving it between two goalposts. That Pele inverted gravity and Maradona magically wove the ball, as if it were glued to his foot, between baffled opponents.

Everyone in Toronto knows this about Toronto — that we live diversity every day and that it shapes us. More than 50 per cent of residents were born elsewhere.

These next few weeks, the world will come to us, to celebrate a game that has four billion fans.

We apologize in advance for the lineups, the traffic, the inconveniences we couldn’t fix in time and the ones we couldn’t predict in time. We are still working our gangly city out, as perhaps you are working on yours.

Here are the fans, from Toronto or as near as we could find, who will be watching the 2026 World Cup games, where they will be watching them and the foods they will share.

The fan: Toronto Blue Jays rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela, 25.

Cheering for: The native of Hermosillo is cheering for his home country, Mexico. The nation, which is co-hosting along with Canada and the U.S., is a World Cup regular. This year marks El Tricolor’s 18th appearance, and they have reached the quarterfinals twice. A total of 15,440 people in Toronto claim Mexican ethnic or cultural origin, according to Statistics Canada.

Why he’s cheering: Valenzuela is pulling for his home team in part because of the challenges they face.

“I’m rooting for the guys in Mexico because even though they’re on the national team, I know that they do a lot and there’s a lot going on in Mexico as a country,” he said. “The Federation of Football has not been doing a great job and that’s just been known for a little bit now in Mexico.

“We know that Mexico is not in the greatest spot in history for football, but we’re Mexican, so we just push for each other.”

A pro athlete himself, Valenzuela knows Mexican team player Armando Gonzalez. They have mutual friends. Gonzalez, 23, is nicknamed La Hormiga (the ant), apparently because of a childhood phobia of ants. He won the Golden Boot in the Mexican League in 2025.

Valenzuela is an MLB catcher, so he knows toughness. He said you should pull for his team because they have the same characteristics.

“The effort that the guys have been putting on … they’ve been going back and forth between the national team and their professional teams and they’ve been going back and forth and back and forth a lot. So they’ve been grinding their asses off for the last month-and-a-half. So that’s one reason — the effort they put in — and also they deserve it.”

How to cheer: It could almost be a challenge not to find a place to pull for Mexico, with no shortage of places to eat, drink and cheer on our World Cup co-host — the city’s World Cup website says that by number of restaurants, Mexican food is among Toronto’s top five cuisines, with viewing opportunities to match. And if you love general Latin American flavour with your futbol, the Soccer International Cup Latin Fair takes over Artscape Wychwood Barns on June 20, and Mel Lastman Square on June 21.

The fan: Technical sales manager Robert Larkan, 44.

Cheering for: South Africa returns to the World Cup for the first time since it last hosted the tournament in 2010. The nation on the southernmost tip of the African continent has about 5,505 people in Toronto who claim origin from the country.

Why he cheers: Larkan has a bit of déjà vu ahead of this year’s World Cup. Sixteen years ago was the last time he watched his home country, South Africa — the host nation — play in the tournament, kicking things off with a match against Mexico.

Fast forward exactly 16 years, and Larkan will witness a rematch against the same team on the same date.

Larkan was fully immersed in the global tournament, cheering on the South African national team, known as the Bafana Bafana, which translates to “the boys, the boys.” Large parks held watch parties and private schools opened their facilities to show matches during the festivities.

“There were a lot of people turning up to work late during that month,” joked Larkan. “Everything was just World Cup, World Cup, World Cup. I mean, it was awesome.”

He got to watch matches that included powerhouse nations like Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil, Germany and Portugal. He got tickets through FIFA as a local. If he wasn’t watching a game in the stadium, he was at a fan park with other fans. As a Liverpool soccer fan, he got to witness some of his favourite players competing in person for Spain, who went on to win that World Cup.

Larkan, who is based near Niagara-on-the-Lake, moved to Canada in 2022 with his family. Before that, he grew up and lived in South Africa and saw how Nelson Mandela used the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unify and bring his country together after Apartheid. Mandela spent 27 years in prison for his opposition to the Apartheid regime, refusing to give up on trying to achieve equality for everyone, later becoming the country’s first Black president.

“It was something that we saw bring the country together and open up people’s eyes to what has been (and) expose ourselves to the world that we’re here, we want to grow, we want to build ourselves together,” said Larkan.

He believes the country’s return to the World Cup can ignite the country, similar to the rugby event in 1995 and similar to hosting in 2010. Larkan’s son already has his own South African kit for the World Cup, with his name on the back. Just recently, the seven-year-old played in his first competitive soccer game.

“Maybe one day, three more World Cup times, he’ll be running on the field. You never know,” said Larkan. “He’s got the football bug.”

How to cheer: When he’s not travelling for the tournament, Larkan plans to host a barbecue, which in South Africa is called either a Shisanyama or a braai, and is a significant gathering for people. It comes from the Zulu phrase and means “burn meat,” and refers to communal barbecue.

Food staples include South African sausages known as boerewors, which are on the menu. Boerewors means “farmer’s sausage” in Afrikaans and is normally on a bun with spicy tomatoes and onion-based relish, also called Chakalaka. Another common food is Biltong, which is an air-dried, cured meat. Different from beef jerky but awfully familiar to outsiders.

The fan: Financial analyst Jake Kim, 37.

Cheering for: South Korea has made 11 World Cup appearances, included a fourth-place finish in 2002. The country has a population of 51.75 million people and is in East Asia, located in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. There are 42,195 people of Korean origin living in Toronto.

Why he’s cheering: Jake Kim remembers the time his home country hosted the World Cup.

Born and raised in South Korea, Kim spent his youth falling in love with the game. He grew up playing soccer but knew he would be a fan for life when South Korea hosted the 2002 World Cup.

“I truly became a fan watching all those matches happening in my homeland,” said Kim. “That’s what I fell in love with.”

That love of the sport carried on even when Kim left South Korea. When he moved to Toronto, he joined the Korean Canadian Soccer Association and played in an amateur soccer league at Esther Shiner Civic Stadium in North York.

That’s where his favourite part about soccer changed from watching the game to taking to the field.

“I think the game that I typically play myself has much of a bigger impact,” said Kim. “Whether you win or lose it’s bound that you can have a good time and that’s where I really got pulled into playing soccer.”

Kim played on that field for 10 years, winning tournaments and making lifelong friends. The league allows people of different skills and ages to play together, which made helped build a strong Korean soccer community locally.

Now, with the World Cup arriving at his new home, Kim is ready to soak it all in and enjoy getting together with his league as they cheer on South Korea.

“Hosting the World Cup, it only comes once in a lifetime,” said Kim. “I’m just excited to really see that happening.”

How to cheer: Sinjeon Topokki & Pocha on Bloor, in the heart of Koreatown, is hosting World Cup matches every day from June 11 to July 19, including South Korea as they take on Czechia on June 11, Mexico on June 18, and South Africa on June 24. Comma Toronto on Queen Street West will also show Canada and South Korea matches live on their TVs. As for Kim’s plans? “It’s just a bunch of our soccer buddies that we are expected to gather at the pub to watch the game together.”

The fan: Coppersmith Andrew Peichl, 41.

The country: The Czech Republic has had 10 previous appearances in the World Cup, with most of its appearances coming as part of Czechoslovakia, before the nation split with Slovakia. As an independent nation, this is its second appearance and its first since 2006. Located in Central Europe, about 7,745 people with Czech origins reside in Toronto.

Why he cheers: Peichl was at summer camp in his family’s home country of the Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, when he watched the national team compete in the Euro finals against Germany in 1996. Everyone gathered inside the dining hall to watch the game go to penalties.

It’s a core memory for the 41-year-old, who spent time with family in Czechia in the mid- to late ’90s, often for two- to four-month spans. A lot of that time was spent with his cousins glued to the television screen watching soccer. Twenty years later, he gets to watch his country make its way to the World Cup.

“It doesn’t even seem like it was that long ago,” he said.

The team has had bright spots, but those largely disappeared; Peichl says the fall of Communism after the 1989 Velvet Revolution might have affected things. His family fled Czechia and Communism in 1984, escaping to Austria and spending some of their time there at a refugee camp before coming to Canada.

He finally got to watch his team again in the 2006 World Cup at The Foggy Dew, which was a popular Irish pub on King Street. The Czech Republic opened the tournament against the United States; he remembers trash-talking an American during the match who was, unbeknownst to him, the bar’s owner.

Peichl takes soccer seriously, playing twice a week, every Monday and Thursday, in Scarborough at Masaryktown with locals who have ties to Czechia and Slovakia. A bunch of them have played there since the ‘90s.

“I’ve smashed my TV watching (Toronto F.C.),” he joked. “It’s probably my most intense passion in life, hobby-wise. I do (other) sports too, like rock climbing, skiing, that stuff, but I just love everything about it, the culture.”

How to cheer: Peichl says that having a classic Pilsner beer is most common for supporters of Czechia during matches. A standard pork and dumplings is a go-to as well as sausages.

Peichl has plans to gather with a few friends to watch the games. He’s hesitant to get his hopes up, but is stoked to see how well the team does and if they can surprise the world.

The fan: Dwayne De Rosario, retired Canadian soccer star, 48.

Cheering for: Canada. This is the country’s third trip to the FIFA World Cup and the first time it will co-host the event. They are yet to win a game at the group stage; they didn’t score at all in 1986, but were far more competitive in 2022. The FIFA rankings have Canada at 30th in the world, just off its all-time high of 26 in September 2025, and well above its all-time low of 122nd in 2014.

Why he’s cheering: De Rosario said soccer is in his blood thanks to a family that long embraced the Beautiful Game. Growing up in Scarborough to a family of Guyanese immigrants, his most loved player was Brazilian legend Pele.

“I was kicking in my mom’s stomach and I haven’t stopped,” said De Rosario. “When I was a baby, and growing up, I went to my dad’s matches. My brothers played it. They loved it. That passion leaked into my veins. You’re running on the field, kicking the ball around, and then it just becomes an everyday activity.”

Playing youth soccer with the Scarborough Blizzard and Malvern Majors, he turned down an offer to join AC Milan’s academy at 15. He eventually turned pro at 17 with the Toronto Lynx, embarking on a 22-year career through European and North American leagues.

He also represented Canada 88 times — tied with Julian de Guzman for second-most appearances all time for the national men’s team. He scored 22 goals, third most by a Canadian male internationally.

The Canadian Sports Hall of Famer was part of a generation of players that helped bring the sport from its niche spot to the mainstream.

“It was rewarding to know that I ended up doing what I love to do,” said De Rosario. “It never ever felt like a job. It felt like another day at the playground with a bunch of friends. And it opened my eyes to the world, travelling to play football.”

How to cheer: De Rosario plans to attend each of Canada’s games, whether in Toronto or Vancouver.

“It’s going to be extremely special and I don’t think there’s words I can use to express how I’m going to feel that day,” said De Rosario. “It’s a dream come true. It’s going to be emotional, it’s going to be all emotions because it’s crazy to think we’re in a time and space where Canada is hosting the World Cup.

“To witness that, to know kids that have dreams and aspirations to play the sport and love the sport. The highest level of our sport is in our backyard. It’s surreal, to be honest.”

Canadian fans won’t be at risk of missing a game. Toronto is blanketed with FIFA flags. There are watch parties, some organized by the city, some by bars, and then there is Canada Soccer House, Soccer Canada’s official fan location at the Harbourfront Centre. And Canada’s games will be on just about every television in the country, via CTV, TSN and Crave.

“There are so many pubs, restaurants, communities, it’s going to bring the game to a level we’ve never witnessed before I this country,” said De Rosario. “It’s my job to make sure that hunger, that desire, that appetite stays fresh after the World Cup is gone.”

The fan: General director of the Bosnian-Canadian Association Emina Kapo, 33.

Cheering for: Bosnia and Herzegovina makes its second World Cup appearance after securing a spot by defeating Italy in a playoff match that went to penalties. The country on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe has approximately 35,925 people living in Canada, with 3,255 people of Bosnian origin based in Toronto.

Why they cheer: When Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Italy to secure their spot in the World Cup and a date with Canada to open the tournament on June 12 in Toronto, the win was poetic and a full-circle moment for Kapo and those who have closely followed the national team for decades.

After the Bosnian war ended in the mid-’90s, the country’s first international victory came in a shocking 2-1 friendly match against Italy in 1996 at Kosevo Olympic Stadium in Sarajevo.

Thirty years later, Kapo was at home with her parents as she struggled to watch her country compete for a spot in the World Cup against the same team, turning away and praying instead while the penalty shootout took place in March.

“The only reason I knew that we had finished the match and won was because my parents started screaming and my mom’s like, ‘You can get up now,’ and I started running!” said Kapo. “It was incredibly emotional. It was an incredibly beautiful day.”

To celebrate, Kapo and her family got into their car as she hung from the sunroof, waving the Bosnia and Herzegovina flag as they paraded the streets of Hamilton with other members of the community.

Soccer to Bosnians is much more than just a game. For many, it brought them together in the midst of war between 1992 and 1995. Kids would crumble up socks and paper, and kick them around like they were a soccer ball in the local park with hopes a bomb wouldn’t fall on them while they played.

The 33-year-old often gets flashes of memories as a kid, going outside to play and often being told to stay indoors by her mother because it wasn’t safe enough.

“I just remember the joy of friendship and community and togetherness and everyone trying to rebuild after the devastation that just happened to us,” said Kapo, while holding back tears. “After the fact that we had just lost direct family members. Some people lost entire families, and we still found joy, the tiniest of little things, and the main thing, particularly being footy.”

Kapo was born in Fojnica, a town in Bosnia, just about an hour outside the country’s capital, Sarajevo. After the war, Kapo’s family returned to Sarajevo before moving to Canada in 2002, initially settling in Winnipeg before moving to Hamilton. Her parents managed three different jobs when they arrived, working at a factory, doing cleaning jobs and delivering local newspapers in the middle of the night.

“I grew to love Canada as my second home because it did afford my parents and (me) a lot of opportunities,” said Kapo, who often missed the tight-knit community back home in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “I’m so grateful for the life that it’s provided me and my family over the last 24 years.”

A cousin gifted Kapo tickets to the opening World Cup match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada, and she has family travelling from Sarajevo to Toronto for a special reunion. This will be the first time a lot of them are together since Kapo was a toddler.

Kapo says she’ll be happy either way on the match outcome between her two countries, hoping they can both make it out of the group stage, which also includes Switzerland and Qatar.

How to cheer: As the general director of the Bosnian Canadian Association, Kapo is helping organize a march in co-ordination with FIFA that fans attending the game can take part in on their way to Toronto Stadium. A watch party will also be held at Anapilis Hall in Mississauga for those who won’t be watching the game in person.

Bosnians are known to have coffee and cigarettes during games and pita, known as burek, which is a pastry that’s hand-stitched from phyllo dough. There are different types, such as Sirnica, filled with cheese. Burek is filled with spiced ground meat and onions, while Krompirusa is filled with diced potatoes and onions.

For Kapo, seeing her country back on the World Cup stage is what she’s most proud of.

“The world finally gets to see the beauty that is my home country,” she said, “and the beauty that is our people and the hospitality and respect and love that we really truly have to share with the world.”

The fan: PhD student Sara Gibreel, in her 50s

Cheering for: Qatar, a country that, before hosting the World Cup in 2022, had never qualified for the tournament. The small Arab nation sits on the Persian Gulf, with a population of 3.37 million. About 4,110 people in the Toronto CMA were born in Qatar.

Why they cheer: OK, Gibreel won’t be cheering from Toronto. Though she wishes she could be here.

Studying dentistry and living in Montreal, she had hoped to volunteer for the World Cup here this summer, but her studies took precedence.

When Qatar hosted the World Cup in her home country four years ago, Gibreel knew she had to be a part of it. She worked hard and became a volunteer during the matches, interacting with fans and making memories she’d never forget. She was proud to wear the uniform in her home country.

“Football was everything in our family, our conversation, our passion, and I’ve been in that environment and also I volunteered not only in the FIFA, I volunteered in other cups on the national level,” said Gibreel.

Stepping foot in the stadium back home, she could feel the rush of energy from the fans around her. “It’s a never-ending memory,” said Gibreel. “It’s an amazing, exceptional feeling, being in the middle of all this crowd, cheering together, everyone is happy.”

Though she can’t make it down the 401 to Toronto, she’s still excited to celebrate Canada hosting the World Cup. “I’ve been part of the community so I was very happy that it’s coming … it’s almost like a second home,” said Gibreel.

How to cheer: Qatar might be a small nation, but it will get big attention locally as it plays in Canada’s pool, battling the home team in Vancouver on June 18. That game will be on screens around the city, from major locations like the FIFA Fan Zone, Canada Soccer House and the Home of Soccer at Stackt Market to living rooms and basements across the city.

The fan: Speech language pathologist Céline Baracho, 42.

Cheering for: Switzerland has made 12 appearances at the World Cup but has never won the tournament. They’ve made it to the quarterfinals three times, with their last appearance in 1954. Approximately 9.1 million people live in the central European country dominated by the Alps, with roughly 6,710 people of Swiss origin living in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Baracho had constantly moved back and forth between Switzerland and Canada before eventually settling in Toronto in 2009. But the one thing that remained consistent through her life was her love of soccer, which she played recreationally. She grew up in a “soccer family” and shared that love with her two older brothers.

In 2008, Switzerland co-hosted the European Football Championship, where Baracho got a job as a steward. After suffering an ACL injury in 2017 during a game, she’s since scaled back her soccer days.

But her eight-year-old son is now following in her footsteps, playing for the Cherry Beach Soccer Club in East Danforth.

She calls herself a proud soccer mom. “Even though I can’t play the same way anymore, my love for the game is still strong and now I get to share that passion with my kids.”

How to cheer: Baracho is also vice-president of the Swiss Club Toronto. This year, they are holding three watch parties scattered across the city for Switzerland’s group-stage games: June 13 at the Stout Irish Pub, when Switzerland takes on Qatar; June 18 at The Fox & Fiddle Danforth, when Switzerland takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina; and June 24 at The Union Social Eatery, when Switzerland plays Canada. To attend, there is an RSVP form posted on the club’s website.

“Everyone’s going to have matching Swiss jerseys for this year,” she said, anticipating a sea of red and lots of exciting energy amongst the group. “I love the pride we have for this beautiful country that we all feel so connected to.”

The fan: Graphic designer Allan Gomes, 36.

Cheering for: Brazil, the most successful nation in World Cup history, has won the event five times. They are the only country to participate in every single tournament since its inception in 1930. Brazil has a population of 213.5 million people and is the largest country in South America. A total of 14,860 people of Brazilian origin live in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Gomes has never been to a country that’s hosting the World Cup.

When Brazil hosted the soccer tournament in 2014, Gomes missed out on the excitement in his home country as he lived in Ireland at the time. It didn’t have the same magic as if he were home to witness it.

“It was different, it wasn’t loud,” said Gomes. “If you are in Brazil, Brazil’s core is you just hear everyone. On their window, singing and shouting, screaming. You feel the floor vibrate. Everyone is watching that.

“It wasn’t a party like I was used to.”

Despite having some friends with him in Europe to provide a taste of the Brazilian community during that time, he was still stuck watching games in pubs.

Growing up in Brazil, Gomes remembers the energy of the country during the World Cup. He recalls having to wake up early to catch games, going to parties with friends and family, and even dancing on the street with his parents during the 1998 World Cup in France.

“When Brazil wins, we just go out on streets and on trucks, shouting and singing. Shouting for Brazil,” said Gomes. “I think it’s kind of a mixture of carnival and celebration for soccer.”

Now living in Toronto, he’s ready to experience the World Cup up close.

How to cheer: For local fans, it would be difficult to travel through Little Portugal and not find a place to cheer. And if the team really goes on a run this year, the annual Brazilfest at Earlscourt Park just happens to coincide with championship weekend.

Gomes will gear up supporting Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, commonly known as Palmeiras — a Brazilian professional football club based in the city of São Paul — with his special green hat and socks to represent his favourite team from his home country.

Despite Brazil experiencing political unrest and a general election in the fall, Gomes is ready for the unity of soccer.

“I think there is a lot of polarity on our community because of politics and everything. So when the World Cup starts, it’s the time that everyone has the same blood and everyone cheers for the same thing.”

The fan: President of the Moroccan Association of Toronto Mohamed Benjelloun, 54.

Cheering for: Morocco reached the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African nation to do so. The country that borders the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea has about 81,770 expats living in Canada — mostly in Quebec, and 3,905 people of Moroccan origin live in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Benjelloun is old enough to remember Morocco’s rise as a soccer nation at the 1986 World Cup when the country made it out of its group as underdogs, defeating powerhouse Portugal and drawing with Poland and England.

That year, Morocco became the first African team to move to the second round of the tournament.

“That was the start of a new generation of soccer players and of soccer in general in Morocco that actually expanded to 30 years later to this time,” said Benjelloun.

Benjelloun, who came to Canada in the 1990s for school and settled in Toronto, finds time to follow the national team closely, even making the trip out to Qatar four years ago. It was a special experience for Benjelloun, who was part of a large contingent of Moroccan fans that took over the stadium during matches as many made the trip from different parts of the world.

Benjelloun describes Moroccan fans as animated, especially with the love for the team growing in recent years thanks in part to its fourth-place finish in 2022.

“It’s just something that we Moroccans didn’t believe would happen,” said Benjelloun. “Those are really some of the most unique moments that I’ve lived in my life watching the national team.”

Morocco enters the tournament ranked eighth, according to FIFA’s men’s world ranking, making them the top-ranked African team.

But it also arrives in a cloud of controversy stemming from the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in January. Morocco lost the match 1-0 to Senegal but in March was awarded the title and a 3-0 victory, per rules of forfeited matches, after Senegal had walked off the field for 15 minutes during the match’s stoppage time in protest of a disallowed goal and then later a penalty awarded to Morocco. The Confederation of African Football ruled Senegal “declared to have forfeited the final” and stripped them of its title. That ruling is now being appealed by Senegal.

Benjelloun wouldn’t mind seeing Senegal in a rematch that many fans want to see take place in this World Cup. Morocco needs to first get out of its group, which includes Brazil, Scotland and Haiti. The team will be led by Achraf Hakimi, who is considered one of the best right-backs in the world.

How to cheer: Morocco fans don’t normally have a special food when it comes to games, says Benjelloun. Sfenj is a well-known Moroccan doughnut, but unlike other nations that might drink alcohol, Morocco is a Muslim-majority country and tea is a huge part of their culture.

Fans in the city can catch the team twice at the official Fan Festival, on June 13 against Brazil and on June 19 against Scotland (premium tickets are still available). The team is hoping to build on its run in the last World Cup and become the first African team to win the tournament. Benjelloun says if they can win it all, maybe it can inspire other nations, too.

“I generally cheer for all the African teams,” said Benjelloun. “If Morocco is not playing, I’m a fan of the next African team that plays, with no exception. I really hoped that this time that more than two or three African teams at a minimum advance to the third stage, to the round of 16.”

The fan: Actress Maythaila Jerome-Antoine, 36.

Cheering for: Haiti, which will make only its second World Cup appearance and first in 52 years. The Caribbean country has a large population, with 99,945 people residing in Canada. Approximately 79,725 people live in Montreal, with 2,820 people of Haitian origin in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Jerome-Antoine heard the classic tales from her father about his time in the 1980s training for a coveted roster spot for the Haitian national team, known as “Les Grenadiers.” He would be part of intense practices, run 10 to 20 kilometres a day with hopes of representing his country but, despite being in the mix, he fell just short.

Over half a decade later, Jerome-Antoine is over the moon her father will be able to witness his country on the world stage. He’s already been emotional about what this means to him. As for her, it will be a first.

“It is unfortunate that it took us so long to be able to get back into the World Cup,” said Jerome-Antoine. “But this World Cup is definitely going to be very important for all Haitians around the world.”

Montreal holds one of the largest Haitian populations outside of Haiti and is a major hub for francophone speakers. Thousands filled the seats of BMO Field in March to watch Haiti’s friendly against Tunisia in preparation for the tournament.

Jerome-Antoine, who was born in Montreal but moved to Toronto, was in attendance for the game despite the cold conditions. The day after, she got to meet some of the players on the national team at an event and let them know how proud the community was and what it meant to see them competing at this tournament.

“It was just a friendly game, but to be there knowing that they will actually be on the World Cup stage, like they actually could potentially win the World Cup, you never know, it felt surreal,” said Jerome-Antoine. “This is how my dad felt when he was a teenager.”

The 36-year-old wishes Haiti had matches scheduled in Toronto but has hopes the country can take down powerhouse Brazil when they meet in Philadelphia and is considering making the trek to watch it live.

“It would have made more sense to have like Haiti versus Morocco in Montreal (instead of Atlanta), in my own opinion. Those games would have sold out so quickly,” said Jerome-Antoine.

Over the last few years, Haiti has dealt with political instability in the country with widespread gang violence, humanitarian crisis and the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, Haiti’s 43rd president, in 2021.

Jerome-Antoine says this moment for the nation brings some much-needed hope and positivity.

It’s “a time to showcase to the world that, among the adversity, we’re still very resilient,” she said. “We always get up, back on our feet and we make sure to just fight our way through. And that’s what ‘Les Grenadiers’ represents.”

How to cheer: On a typical match day, Jerome-Antoine says brown rice with black beans and either chicken or fried pork is a go-to food item. You also can’t go wrong with the some plantains and Pikliz, which is a spicy type of coleslaw. Haitian beer, known as Prestige, will be served as it’s the bestselling beer in the country.

Like many other Haitians, Jerome-Antoine will be draped in the country’s blue and red flags during games, passionately singing the national anthem with hopes of history being made.

“If you believe in something, you can achieve it, and if these guys are actually able to manage to win the World Cup, they can finally see that even though Haiti has its ups and downs it’s still a very resilient country,” said Jerome-Antoine.

The fan: Marketing director Steven Allison, 36.

Cheering for: Scotland, part of the United Kingdom with a population of over 5 million people, is back in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. There are about 211,175 people of Scottish origin living in Toronto.

Why they cheer: The night Scotland qualified for the 2026 World Cup in November, Steven Allison and a group of about 30 people were on top of tables, going absolutely bonkers, screaming and celebrating as they watched at the local pub, Scotland Yard.

Allison couldn’t remember what the feeling was like. The last time he saw Scotland in the World Cup, he was a kid in school, watching their opening match in 1998 against Brazil.

Despite Scotland’s 28-year absence from the World Cup, soccer is the most important sport in the country. Two of the country’s most successful clubs, Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C., despise each other. It’s a rivalry rooted in deep religious, social and political divisions.

Allison’s dad has been a season-ticket holder for the Rangers for over 50 years, passing it on to him. Allison still holds onto it, despite now living in Toronto.

The only thing that can calm the fanbases and bring them together in one room is cheering on Scotland’s national team.

Supporters of Scotland — known as the Tartan Army — often travel far and wide, filling up global arenas. They can be spotted wearing traditional Scottish clothing, including a knee-length kilt made of tartan wool. Some also can be seen carrying bagpipes, preparing to sing their classic anthem “We’ll Be Coming Down the Road” before matches.

“We like to drink and we like to have a good time and we like to sing,” said Allison.

Allison estimates he’s attended about 50 Scotland matches in his lifetime, travelling across Europe in Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany, Slovakia and Georgia to cheer on his country. He’ll be in Boston, Mass., for 12 days as he’s secured tickets for Scotland’s first World Cup match against Haiti. He’ll then fly to Miami to watch them conclude their group stage against Brazil.

This past Halloween, Allison dressed as William Wallace from the 1995 film “Braveheart.”

“I was going to Scotland games before I can actually really remember the games and who we were playing, but my dad took me,” said Allison. “We’ve been following my whole life. I’m 36 now, so you’re talking 33 years of it.”

When Allison moved to Toronto in 2024 for a marketing job, he felt homesick. The only way he felt closer to home was visiting Scotland Yard and watching all of Scotland’s qualifying games, which allowed him to make new friends and connect with Scottish folks in the city. Hours before a match, drinking isn’t optional; it’s a requirement for Scotland fans.

How to cheer: A classic drink for match day is a pint of Tennent’s Lager, made in Glasgow. In North America, Buckfast tonic wine has become popular. At halftime, it’s also routine for supporters to have a traditional scotch pie.

“We actually have a phrase back in Scotland whassic drink for match day is a pint of Tennent’s Lager, made in Glasgow. In North America, Buckfast tonic wine has become popular. At halftime, it’s also routine for supporters to have a traditional scotch pie.

ere it’s ‘eating is cheating,’ meaning if you’re drinking, you shouldn’t be having any food because it sobers you up,” laughs Allison. “You fill your stomach with beer basically.”

Fans can gather at locations like The Caledonian (“home of the Tartan Army”) at 856 College St. as well as at the official FIFA Fan Festival on both June 13 and June 19.

Expectations for the World Cup aren’t grand for fans like Allison. He celebrated qualifying for the World Cup like Scotland won the whole thing. There are only two things Allison wants to see in this tournament. One is for his country to win a match in the group stage, which hasn’t happened since 1990. The other thing? Seeing England lose.

“(Our) second team is whoever England are playing against. England won the World Cup in 1966, and they still talk about it,” said Allison.

The fan: Sales executive Anthony Antonelli, 56.

Cheering for: The United States makes its 12th World Cup appearance and is one of the three host nations. Our neighbour has a population of about 342 million; approximately 256,090 Americans live in Canada, with 21,905 calling Toronto home.

Why they cheer: Gearing up to watch his national team, Antonelli gets chills thinking about the possibility of them accomplishing the unbelievable and winning a World Cup on home soil.

“Nothing’s gonna change the political climate in these times, but I think it would definitely help unite Americans a bit more, kind of like the hockey and the Olympics did,” said Antonelli. “But for me personally, I just think I have so much pride. I’m such a big fan of the sport in general and seeing it grow within the United States that I think that the long-term implications of them winning or even getting to the final will, I think, shine a light on the sport.”

Antonelli grew up in New Jersey, just across the bridge from Philadelphia, moving to Canada for work in 2004. He has called our country home ever since, with three Canadian-American kids living in the city. But he considers himself a defender of American soccer, and his household often splits on which nation they support.

He and his 12-year-old son Luke will head to Seattle to watch the United States play Australia this month, before he spends time in British Columbia up in the nosebleeds to watch Canada play Qatar on June 18.

“I think he’s super excited,” said Antonelli of his son. “He’s like telling all his friends … he was like beaming that he gets to go, but I actually don’t think he really understands how many people worldwide, and obviously in Canada and the U.S., are going to be watching and participating in all the fan events. I don’t think he quite understands what’s about to hit all of us in a good way.”

The 56-year-old travelled to Brazil to watch the 2014 World Cup. Lionel Messi scored in the game he attended, but the coolest part for him was seeing how people from different countries hung out together and appreciated each other’s company.

“Everyone’s talking to each other, (asking), ‘Where are you from? Why are you here?’ and it just really, it sounds cheesy, but it really did feel like this global get-together,” said Antonelli.

How to cheer: When he’s not watching the World Cup in-person, Antonelli will try and feel closer to home by keeping similar traditions as he does for the Super Bowl, having friends over and making hoagies and cheesesteaks, which are Philadelphia staples.

The fan: Matthew Ransom, owner of Latinito Empanadas, 29.

Cheering for: Paraguay has made eight appearances at the World Cup but this will be their first appearance since 2010. Approximately 7.1 million people live in Paraguay, with roughly 8,000 Paraguayan nationals in Canada and 205 people of Paraguayan origin living in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Ransom’s entire family back in Paraguay are “huge soccer fanatics.” No matter who’s playing, his dad will always watch a soccer match and his mother grew up surrounded by soccer talk and friendly competitive matches.

Naturally, he became immersed in the sport. Growing up in Brampton, he joined a team as a child and every recess, he would be out kicking the ball with friends.

It’s Paraguay’s first time in the renowned soccer tournament in 16 years, where the nation had its best finish in reaching the quarterfinals. Ransom believes they’re due for a win.

“They’ve always kind of been the underdog of South America,” he said, pointing toward other countries such as Argentina and Brazil, who have won a combined eight World Cups and are more recognized. “Most people have never met a Paraguayan person.”

How to cheer: To cheer the Paraguayan way, Ransom says the first step is to find out who in your circle has the largest barbecue grill and television. This is referred to as assado, which translates to roast and refers to the social event of spending hours on the grill with loved ones.

During the game, it’s customary to pass around a cup of yerba mate, a traditional herbal drink, or tereré, an infusion of the tea with ice-cold water and fresh herbs.

The entire match is spent forging “intimate connections” with loved ones, snacking on the grilled meats and ordering in bananas and churros.

It’s a different experience than just finding a sports bar, which Ransom calls the “North American” tradition.

“It’s the most authentic way to watch soccer, besides going to the game.”

The fan: Sales director Kerin Sparks, 60.

Cheering for: Australia is set to make its sixth straight World Cup appearance with a game in Vancouver. The sixth-largest country in the world, there are about 3,480 people of Australian origin living in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Sparks remembers the heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Italy in the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup. A 95th-minute penalty saw Francesco Totti score a goal to help Italy advance. Italy escaped despite being down to 10 men on the field after being issued a red card in the second half of the match.

The controversial penalty call late in the game led to an apology to Australian fans from Sepp Blatter, the head of FIFA at the time, saying they should’ve advanced. Many thought the Socceroos had a chance of lifting the trophy if they defeated Italy, gaining a ton of notoriety, appearing in the tournament for the first time since 1974, and almost upsetting the eventual World Cup champions.

“Australia really took off and got a lot more respected in regard to being a soccer nation,” said Sparks.

The 60-year-old sales director grew up in Perth, Australia, playing Australian football instead of soccer as a kid. He met his wife in Greece while backpacking, before settling in Toronto in 1993. He’s now watched his country become a staple in the tournament, making an appearance every year since 2006.

One of his favourite moments as a fan of the national team was watching Tim Cahill in the 2014 World Cup, who scored their first goal against the powerhouse Netherlands. Australia lost that match and failed to get out of the group stage, but Cahill, who remains the all-time leading goal scorer for Australia, had one of the more memorable goals from the entire tournament.

Sparks made sure to closely follow Australia’s qualification process. They made it to the World Cup and the Socceroos were headed to Vancouver at BC Place. He spent $400 on two tickets for their match against Turkey and will carry one of Australia’s greatest players’ jerseys, Harry Kewell, with him.

“Everybody’s like, ‘How the hell did you get that? Where did you get that?’ ” said Sparks, who found the jersey on eBay over a decade ago.

Australia’s youth, exuberance and ability to shock some countries are why Sparks thinks his country can make some noise in this tournament. They’re in a group with Paraguay, Turkey and the U.S.A.

Despite not being in the same group as New Zealand, Sparks hopes they can run into the nearby country. It doesn’t matter what the sport is, there’s deep rivalry whether it’s cricket, netball, rugby or soccer.

“We have a deep love for working alongside each other,” said Sparks. “When it comes to sport, on the field, it’s a true hate, so it’s kind of like U.S.A.-Canada, big time,” said Sparks.

How to cheer: Hemingway’s Restaurant and Bar on Bloor Street will be the headquarters for many Australian and New Zealand soccer fans to come together and watch the World Cup. Whether it’s a cricket or Rugby World Cup, Sparks has seen the restaurant packed to the brink and expects the same this tournament.

You’ll hear them chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!” which is a popular sporting chant in the country, used to rally support.

For food, Australian fans are known to have chicken parmi, a beloved staple that includes crumbed chicken breast, Napoli sauce, ham, and melted cheese, often served with fries and salad.

They’ll also have sausage rolls, meat pies and the iconic Australian chocolate biscuit, known as Tim Tam, plus Australian beer such as Coopers Pale Ale.

“Its’ passion, and it’s vital, it’s life,” said Sparks. “When your colours are out there on the pitch, it’s something that’s extremely rare and unique to play every four years … it’s rabid.”

The Fan: President of the Turkish Society of Canada Murat Kani Tibet, 59.

Cheering for: Turkey has made only three appearances at the World Cup including this year, and the 2026 edition will be their first appearance in the tournament since 2002, where they had their best result with a third-place finish. Approximately 87.9 million people live in Turkey, with roughly 77,000 Turkish nationals in Canada and the majority of them are concentrated across the GTA. A total of 15,770 people of Turkish origin live in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Some of Tibet’s earliest memories from growing up in Istanbul were of kicking the soccer ball — or football in Europe and the Middle East — near a shipyard. As a child, he was always tasked with being the goalkeeper and his “net” was a large steel door with gold features surrounding it.

He remembers the loud bang of the soccer ball against the doors when his competitors kicked it above him. “We were really tiny guys playing around there,” Tibet said, adding that they weren’t very good at the sport.

While there was initial disappointment that Turkey’s games would not be coming to Toronto (their first match is against Australia in Vancouver before heading to the U.S.), the excitement has built up nonetheless amongst the community, said Tibet. Many are also excited to cheer on Canada during the tournament.

“As Turkey’s team couldn’t play in Toronto, I will have more fun with the Canada team since they’re here.”

How to cheer: Most match events in Toronto will be organized by local communities and soccer groups, which are split into branches to symbolize Turkey’s four major football clubs competing in the country’s top league, the Turkish Super Lig.

Since downtown Toronto will likely be jam-packed during the games (and Tibet specifically points out the city’s FIFA Fan Festival), Tibet will be avoiding those zones during match days.

He envisions a group of enthused Turkish soccer fans crowded into a restaurant or bar, rejoicing over the country’s return to the games after a 24-year hiatus.

But through the chaos and blur of the games, he’s most looking forward to sharing the experience with his son, a recent graduate from the University of Toronto.

“We are always watching the (soccer) games together,” he said.

The fan: Anne-Marie Seessle, chairwoman of Sudkurve Toronto, the official fan club of FC Bayern Munich in the GTA

Cheering for: Germany, which will appear in its 21st of 23 World Cup tournaments, being winners four titles in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. A country with a population of about 83.6 million has a large community here, with 107,475 people in Toronto claiming German origin.

Why they cheer: Growing up playing soccer in Rexdale, Seessle watched how obsessed her father and uncle were with the game. They both congregated in their local community hub called The Musket and little Seessle would always tag along.

“I spent a lot my days at The Musket with my grandmother, my dad. Most of our family functions were done there,” said Seessle. “Essentially, they would show the Germany matches for a friendly, World Cup, Euro Cup, any kind of international match. So it just kind of became a thing that I did with my dad and my uncle.”

Seessle’s grandparents came to Canada by boat in the 1950s, coming from Bavaria in southeastern Germany. Her grandmother died when she was 11 and her grandfather passed away before she was born.

Following the national team has inspired her to learn German and discover more about her family’s roots.

The 38-year-old is the chairwoman of Sudkurve Toronto, the official fan club of Bundesliga team FC Bayern Munich in the GTA, and she has faced her challenges being a woman in a male-dominated sport. “There’s a lot of females in the world that are football fans. And I know many all over the world who probably know a lot more than some men,” said Seessle.

She remembers being at The Musket bawling her eyes out with about 500 fans when Mario Gotze scored a magical goal in extra time as she witnessed the team hoist the World Cup trophy in 2014.

“I will never forget that moment,” said Seessle. “One of the greatest joys of my life was watching them win.”

How to cheer: There are expected to be hundreds of travelling fans in the city, with hopes of a march before the German game here on June 20 and watch parties being hosted at The Pint Public House near the Rogers Centre. During Germany’s Euro Cup run, they had 300 to 600 fans at the location.

Seessle has received updates from the Germany Football Association and is working with the German Consulate and the German National Tourist Office to plan a get-together for supporters of the national team.

During matches, German fans might down a Paulaner, the renowned Munich-based German brewery established in 1634 and the team sponsor. On the grill and on the menu will be Bratwurst, a type of German sausage.

With tickets for Germany’s second World Cup group stage match against Ivory Coast, Seessle will be able to live out her dream of seeing them in a World Cup match.

“I think it’ll be a fantastic atmosphere. I’m gonna probably be very emotional because it’s a bucket list item for me.”

The fan: Data analyst James Roseborough, 42.

Cheering for: Curacao is making its first World Cup appearance, becoming the smallest nation to qualify for the tournament. Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curacao is in the southern Caribbean Sea off the Venezuelan coast and has a population of 158,000. A total of 175 Torontonians were born in Curacao.

Why they cheer: Roseborough never had a team to cheer for in the World Cup.

Despite growing up in Toronto playing house-league soccer through high school, he wasn’t a Canada fan, and never felt the passion he saw in his friends who supported other countries.

“I’ve got a little Ukrainian in me, a little German in me. A little English, Scottish, Irish. I’m a mix of everything,” said Roseborough. “And so when I can, I cling on to those countries just to support somebody. But I don’t really have a team.”

He wanted to feel that passion this time around, and so decided to cheer for a lesser-known country: Curacao. “I’m sort of getting on board with them and supporting Curacao because they’re such a small country and it’s so amazing that they’re in it,” said Roseborough.

Roseborough found his passion for Curacao by chance. He was planning a Caribbean trip in April and picked the small island he remembered seeing on TV. He timed his trip to coincide King’s Day, a major Dutch national holiday that honours King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. Curacao hosted a street festival with live music, markets, traditional Dutch games and food stalls. Roseborough saw tons of people celebrating and fell in love with the culture.

“That passion that they all have kind of got me hooked,” said Roseborough. “If I’m going to support somebody this World Cup, I think I’m really on board to support them.”

As the World Cup comes to Toronto, Roseborough will wear his custom Curacao T-shirt, since he says it was impossible to find a jersey of his adopted national team. “There’s not a lot of Curacaoan sports bars in the city, but I’m gonna do what I can to get out and find places that are putting those games on TV just to watch with friends and other fans.”

How to cheer: Curacao is tiny enough that you won’t likely see a big gathering of national supporters in the city — the stadium in Houston, where the Blue Wave play their first game, could hold about one half of the nation’s entire population. But if you are pulling for the ultimate underdog, they will make an appearance on the FIFA Fan Fest’s big screen when they play Ecuador on June 20.

The fan: Ivory Coast support group president Constant Adonis, 62

Cheering for: Ivory Coast returns to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. The West African nation has yet to make it out of the group stage in four appearances. About 18,865 people from Ivory Coast live in Canada, and 495 people in Toronto claim Ivorian heritage.

Why they cheer: Adonis’ love for soccer started through his father, an international soccer referee who travelled across Africa to call games for the Confederation of African Football. He would occasionally bring Adonis along with him to matches in their home country. It led to Adonis earning his own refereeing certification in Canada.

“I have it, but it was just to be curious and make sure when sometimes I’m at the stadium, to not complain about when the referee messes up,” joked Adonis.

Adonis recalls Ivory Coast’s first appearance in the tournament, the 2006 World Cup, led by star Didier Drogba and how unforgettable the moment was for him and the entire country. He remembers the fan zones and celebrations.

The 62-year-old grew up in Ivory Coast before moving to Quebec in 2008 and later settling in the Greater Toronto Area, where he has lived for the last 12 years.

Following the national team and managing his own soccer team has helped Adonis stay close to his roots. Since 2016, his team has competed weekly in Mississauga and he has also involved himself in tournaments.

“For us as immigrants, when you come here, we have no connection, so we need to start to build it,” he said Adonis. “The soccer team is one of the key points for us. To build a connection in the country.”

Adonis watched the team known as The Elephants when they played last summer in friendlies against Canada and New Zealand at BMO Field. He describes himself as a nervous wreck during games, preferring to watch it at home by himself in front of his TV.

He will be in attendance for Ivory Coast’s lone World Cup game in Toronto against powerhouse Germany.

Ivory Coast isn’t a favourite in the tournament, but Adonis says he can see his country surprising many people due to their resilience, passion and sneaky talent with many players now competing in top European leagues. They’ve won the AFCON title three times, most recently in 2024, and are in a group with Germany, Ecuador, and Curacao.

How to cheer: Before matches, most Ivory Coast fans have a solid meal to give them energy to survive the 90-minute matches.

They’ll have local dishes like attiéké (cassava couscous), which is a staple side dish that goes with fish, along with a little alcohol for those who drink, to raise the adrenalin. Inside the stadium, alcohol is generally not allowed, so fans drink a lot of water and orange juice.

Fans of the team might check out one of the more unique viewing opportunities, a watch party held on Toronto Islands by Destination Canada when the nation plays Germany on June 20.

“If they win, it will be an earthquake,” Adonis said about what would transpire back home. “Maybe for one week, people won’t go to work. They will celebrate in the street … If it happens, maybe I will take a flight to go directly to the country to see because it won’t happen every time.”

The fan: Content creator Carlos Brito, 31.

Cheering for: Ecuador, which had made four previous World Cup appearances, including in 2022. Ecuador is a nation of almost 18 million straddling the equator on the west coast of South America; 8,450 people of Ecuadorian origin live in Toronto, according to Statistics Canada.

Why they cheer: As a kid, Brito’s Ecuador jersey was his most prized possession.

He was four when his father first dressed him in the classic vibrant yellow, navy blue and red shirt (the team’s nickname is La Tricolor). Now it’s a requirement for Brito to purchase a new Ecuador jersey every two years.

But those looking to get their hand on a jersey will tell you it’s not easy. Ecuador gear is not manufactured by any of the big companies. Being in Ecuador is your best shot at finding a jersey. He’s hoping to add to his collection as his country makes its fifth appearance in the tournament.

“It’s not like this is something that I’m used to,” said Brito. “I don’t take it for granted because when I was younger, I was unable to root for Ecuador.”

Ecuador soccer has become a religion for Brito since the first time the country made the World Cup in 2002. He saw the joy on his parents’ faces as they cheered on Ecuador as they’d sit and watch the games as a family

“I can tell you right now we weren’t in an economic situation for anyone to be taking a day off of work,” laughed Brito. “But they did (to watch the games). It just means so much. You make a day out of it.”

Brito’s family migrated from Ecuador in the 1970s and settled in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood. Brito says most Ecuadorians who moved to Toronto settled in either Jane and Finch or the Bloor and Christie area.

Soccer became part of his life at an early age when he’d run around and play at the Driftwood Community Recreation Centre. The game is what keeps the community so tight-knit.

Brito even started his own company called Toronto Latinos, which has close to 100,000 followers in the GTA. When Canada hosted Ecuador in November for a friendly match, Brito was tasked by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to help sell tickets and get his community out, as half the stadium was wearing yellow.

“In the stands in Toronto at BMO Field, it felt like we were in Quito, Ecuador. That’s how many Ecuadorians were there,” said Brito. “My head was telling me to cheer for Canada, but my heart was telling to cheer for Ecuador and then vice versa … the match ended in a tie, so that was pretty cool.”

How to cheer: Hundreds of Ecuadorian fans in the city will gather inside Mundo Sports Bar Lounge in North York to watch the country’s World Cup journey on TV screens while being served classic Ecuadorian dishes.

On the menu will be ceviche, made up of pieces of fish pickled in lemon juice as well as fried cheese empanadas. Brito and others will chant “Si se puede,” which translates to “Yes, we can,” as they believe anything can happen in this tournament.

This World Cup appearance means a lot for Brito and the Ecuadorian people. The national team is on the rise though, and Brito won’t be shocked if they end up making the round of 16 for the first time since 2006.

“The players want to do it for the country and give the country something to cheer about,” said Brito. “They’ll take their game to another level because they know they’re playing for a country right now that needs them to do well … it can almost pull them out of the situation that we’re in right now.”

“Don’t sleep on Ecuador.”

The fan: Borrel restaurant owner and chef Justin Go, 48.

Cheering for: The Netherlands will make their 12th World Cup appearance and they’ve reached the knockout stage in each. A total of 34,360 people in Toronto have Dutch origins.

Why they cheer: Most times, Go finds himself stuck in the back of the kitchen during World Cup matches that involve the Netherlands. He says that’s a good thing as he can get riled up depending on the outcome.

He remembers his restaurant going berserk four years ago during the quarterfinal match between the Netherlands and Argentina as the Oranje rallies back from 2-0 to force penalties against the eventual World Cup champions.

“One of the most amazing Dutch moments I’ve ever witnessed, but with a bit of a sad ending,” said Go.

It was up there with the 2010 World Cup final loss to Spain — massive adrenalin rush with a touch of heartbreak. It’s also why, despite his passion for his team, he’s pessimistic about their chances this year.

“There’s no other sporting event … like Dutch football,” said Go. “That’s for me the absolute pinnacle of emotion for sport. I like the 49ers for American football, and I’ll get pretty into that if they’re in the playoffs, but it’s nowhere near the emotion that I feel for the Dutch team. That’s absolutely through the roof.”

Born and raised in Canada, Go opened up his restaurant in 2017. He originally made Dutch food and snacks for friends from time to time, but after rave reviews he opened a pop-up once a week before officially calling the Danforth area home and providing Dutch comfort food and cocktails.

“In Toronto, you can get literally every kind of food you could think of, but nobody was doing Dutch food,” said Go, whose restaurant also offers Indonesian food. “I just always contemplated this over coffee with my wife in the morning and was just like, ‘What if we started a place?’ ”

How to cheer: The Borrel has been a go-to spot for Dutch fans to watch World Cup games, making you feel like you’re back in the Netherlands.

The restaurant offers Dutch snacks during matches on disposable containers for supporters to enjoy, such as Bitterballen, which is a beef stew rolled into balls and breaded then deep fried, often eaten with mustard.

Patatje Oorlog, also known as “war fries,” is a very popular snack, which is crispy fries combined with mayonnaise, spicy peanut satay sauce and raw onions. Frikandel is another traditional snack, which includes ground meat sausage.

Go says his restaurant will likely be filled to capacity — about 60 people — during matches on a first-come, first-served basis. He’s hoping the Netherlands make history this summer as it would likely translate into the greatest moment in the bar’s history, too. Fans will also hit Hemingway’s and the Amsterdam Brew House.

“It’s kind of the most Dutch kind of feeling that we can have,” said Go. “During these games, you’re hugging strangers and you’re celebrating together, and you’re crying together, and everything like that.”

The fan: Firefighter Kazu Tokuyama, 49

Cheering for: Japan, which has made it to eight consecutive World Cups since its first in 1998, and has advanced four times to the round of 16. There are 28,660 people of Japanese origin living in the GTA, according to the 2021 Statistics Canada census, with 17,115 in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Tokuyama remembers the first time Japan played in the World Cup.

He had travelled to Japan in 1998 while the tournament was being held in France. Despite being winless in France, Tokuyama still enjoyed riding the team’s momentum.

“Because I was in Japan I really got caught up in the fever of being in the World Cup, cheering on the Japanese national team, and then I went back in 2002 when they hosted,” said Tokuyama. “The atmosphere in Japan and the fervour of the fans was just amazing.”

His fondest memory was watching Japan win its first World Cup game against Russia. He got to watch the game on the big screen in the Tokyo National Stadium.

Now Tokuyama will get to experience the World Cup in Toronto.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have the World Cup in Toronto, and in Canada, and North America. I wish I could go watch,” said Tokuyama. “The only downside of it is just I’m very disappointed in the price point of the tickets.”

While he might not see one of the matches in Toronto, Tokuyama will dig up one of his Japan jerseys to rock in the city. He’s been collecting every one since 1998 and plans to get the white away jersey this year.

One thing he’s looking forward to while cheering on Japan is to see how far Canada will go on the world stage as a host nation for the first time.

“I’m excited to see Canada and to see how well they do and how the nation gets behind them and how far they can advance,” said Tokuyama.

How to cheer: The Japanese Canadian Culture Centre, near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East in North York, is hosting public watch parties for three Japan games during the World Cup. The Japanese take on the Netherlands (June 14), Tunisia (June 21 midnight) and Sweden (June 25).

The watch parties will feature activities including interactive games, raffle prizes, a beer garden, and food and marketplace vendors.

Admission is free for all games but they strongly recommend you to RSVP to secure entry.

The fan: Portfolio administrator Christian Rizopulos, 24.

Cheering for: Sweden, which has qualified for 13 World Cups and almost won it all against Brazil when they hosted in 1958. The Scandinavian nation has a population of 10.7 million people; there are 16,400 people of Swedish origin living in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Rizopulos grew up in a soccer home, with both sides of his family cheering for different teams: his mother, Liliana, grew up in Colombia while his father George grew up in Sweden. But Rizopulos himself lived in Sweden until he was 17, and he knew where his allegiance was even after moving to Toronto.

“I’m lucky because I am from a few different awesome cultures,” said Rizopulos. “I spent so much time in Sweden, I’m really excited about Sweden this World Cup.”

Sure, there is friendly competition cheering for the two nations at home with his family, but overall there’s a deep love for the game. “It’s a big mix here,” he said, “and thankfully both Colombia and Sweden made the World Cup so I’ll be able to support both.”

Rizopulos played soccer throughout his time in Sweden, even joining the academy at Djurgardens IF Fotboll, a major soccer club in Stockholm. He recalls pitches everywhere in the city, and playing games with friends during lunch at school.

“It’s my favourite sport absolutely,” said Rizopulos.

Now that the World Cup heading to Toronto, Rizopulos is ready to meet other fans heading to the city while rocking his Sweden jersey. “I’m going to try to interact as much as possible with all people from all the countries that are visiting,” said Rizopulos. “People from all around the world being proud of their nation. It just adds another positive layer to the atmosphere and to be at the actual stage where it happens.”

How to cheer: The Swedish-Canadian Chamber of Commerce is hosting a daytime watch party for the Sweden vs. Netherlands World Cup match on June 20 at the Amsterdam Brewhouse on Queens Quay West.

The fan: Real estate agent Chedli Ben Bouzid, 29.

Cheering for: Tunisia, a country making its third straight World Cup appearance, is looking to make it out of the group stage for the first time in the tournament. They made history back in 1978 as the first African nation to win a World Cup match. There are 485 people of Tunisian origin living in Toronto.

Why they cheer: The first World Cup Bouzid watched Tunisia compete in was in 2006. He was 10 years old, alongside his dad, as they erupted in cheers when Tunisia opened the scoring against Spain, one of the tournament favourites, to hold a 1-0 lead at halftime during their group stage match.

Nobody expected that, and for a brief moment, a lot of fans thought they were about to pull off the unthinkable.

“That was crazy. You feel like you’re gonna win the World Cup,” said Bouzid. “Everything is possible.”

Spain ended up winning 3-1, but that game meant everything to Bouzid, who started following the national team closely. He’s attended more than 25 Tunisian games in person over the years.

That’s why it was a no-brainer for the 29-year-old to trek to downtown Toronto to watch Tunisia play in two friendly matches ahead of the World Cup against Haiti and Canada in March. He wasn’t alone as many Tunisians packed BMO Field, in red and white, with flags and face paint.

“Even for a friendly, people are crazy about soccer,” said Bouzid. “Other countries wouldn’t give it that importance, you know, like ’It’s just a friendly, I’m going to bed.’ We don’t mess around with that.”

Bouzid is from Tunisia but moved to Canada five years ago, relocating to Montreal before settling in Toronto a year ago. Ever since he was a kid, his father and uncles have all followed the Tunisian national team.

Soccer is the No. 1 sport back home in Tunisia. No matter the opponent and time, Tunisians pack inside local coffee shops to support the country. When he watched Tunisia in March, for Bouzid, it felt like he wasn’t in Canada for a second, but back in his homeland surrounded by locals watching their favourite sport.

“I say it jokingly every time (that) we’re gonna win the World Cup. There’s nothing stopping you from dreaming, right?” said Bouzid.

How to cheer: The culture for most Tunisian soccer fans is to find a cafe to watch the game and have a cup of strong coffee by their side while they’re watching the national team. Bouzid’s dad used to own a cafe where hundreds of Tunisians would come by and stand outside on the street to get a glimpse of the TV inside.

Eating food during matches isn’t common, says Bouzid, with most resorting to coffee, tea and some hookah or cigarettes to calm the nerves.

“It’s that combination of caffeine, nicotine and a soccer game on the screen, and you know, the adrenalin being at its height — that’s most Tunisians,” said Bouzid.

Tunisian fans are known for “being spicy,” says Bouzid, always protective of the national team and the country. It’s quite fitting as the country is known to have the hottest cuisine in North Africa.

“We always want to make sure we’re given a good image of the country for people that don’t necessarily know where we come from, don’t know the country,” said Bouzid. “We want to make sure when they see us, they’re like, OK, ‘These are Tunisians. They’re fun. They’re spicy. They are all about good vibes.’ ”

The fan: Partnership manager Antoine Marion, 29.

Cheering for: Belgium, a nation with a long World Cup history: 15 total appearances, including a third-place finish in 2018. The western European country has a population of 11.9 million; 5,575 people of Belgian origin live in Toronto according to Statistics Canada.

Why they cheer: Antoine Marion’s lucky scarf stayed with him as he followed the Belgian national team.

He remembers when he was four years old and following the sport, catching a glimpse of his favourite team at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.

“Just the atmosphere that we had on the day of the game with all the Belgian fans, a sunny beautiful day … chanting all together, the whole day cheering the team,” he said. “The connection that you have with both friends and just random people, that’s a nice thing.”

Each game brought new adventures with his group of six friends, who soaked it all in as Marion’s scarf blew in the wind.

“To be totally honest, I think I wasn’t that sober that evening and it didn’t help to keep the scarf,” said Marion, who has since gotten a new one. “Even without that old scarf, I’m sure I’ll find another lucky charm for us to go for at this World Cup.”

While he has lived in Toronto for the past two years, Marion is still able to hang out with the same group of friends to cheer on his country as they plan to catch the Belgium game in Vancouver against New Zealand on June 26. They had been planning to see the World Cup together for six years and now get their chance for a boys trip in Canada.

“It has been years that we’ve been waiting for this and now a couple of months ago when seeing that Belgium was playing in Vancouver we organized everything to make sure that we would be there,” said Marion.

Marion still feels a deep connection to his home country, and is excited to celebrate the World Cup with other Belgians in Toronto. “I’m not in the country but on the other hand there is a strong community here that helps to feel a bit like home,” said Marion.

How to cheer: Belgium fans will gather at the Crafty Coyote on Bloor for three games: June 15 against Egypt, June 21 against Iran, and June 26 against New Zealand.

The fan: Pharmacist Nadine Hamdy, 32

Cheering for: Egypt will be making its fourth appearance in the World Cup. The northeast African nation boasts a population of approximately 120 million. There are 9,725 people in Toronto of Egyptian origin.

Why they cheer: When Hamdy was a little girl, she’d travel to Egypt for the summers with her family and support Al Ahly SC, one of the most famous and successful soccer clubs on the continent.

She still has the jersey of Egypt’s long-time goalkeeper, Essam El-Hadary, as a badge of honour. He’s the oldest player to play in a World Cup at age 45, and Hamdy has kept and cherished his shirt for 16 years now.

“(The sense of pride is) really deep-rooted within me,” said Hamdy.

Hamdy gathers with the community to watch the national team play, oftentimes side-by-side with strangers who turn into cheering partners. Despite this being only Egypt’s fourth appearance in the World Cup, Hamdy doesn’t fail to let others know that the Pharaohs are the most successful team at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with seven titles under their belt.

During the 2018 World Cup, Hamdy would find a random Egyptian cafe in Mississauga to watching her country compete in the tournament with others.

“We’re all cheering for the same team, and we’re all sharing the same excitement or the same anger, frustration, sadness, (it’s) that sense of community,” said Hamdy.

Hamdy, born in Toronto, makes it her mission to visit Egypt at least once or twice a year. It’s a country that never sleeps, and where you can find people dancing and singing on the streets until four in the morning.

The tournament allows Hamdy to shine a spotlight on the country.

“I can’t just talk about Egypt on a random day for like no reason, right?” said Hamdy. “Now in the World Cup, I have an excuse to talk about it and then talk about its culture, and talk about its history because we’re so much more than just the pyramids. There’s so much to Egypt. And I feel like football just brings everyone together regardless.”

Egypt fans are known to be very loud and prideful, says Hamdy, who can’t sit still during games. You can find people with their cars painted, often dressing up in pharaoh custom outfits.

The national team is led by Mohamed Salah, a well-known soccer player for Liverpool, who is also considered one of the best players of his generation. With Salah leading the country back to the tournament, fans are confident the team has a chance to surprise people. They’re in a group with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran.

“If any African nation is going to win the World Cup, it would be Egypt,” said Hamdy. “Why not win the World Cup? We already dominated one continent. Why not go for the rest?”

How to cheer: While watching a game, Egypt fans often have shisha — a water pipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco or herbal products — in front of them as well as tea, or a lemon mint drink.

Hamdy likes to watch games with tarb, which is a traditional Egyptian delicacy consisting of beef or lamb wrapped in caul fat. She might also have koshary, another national dish that is a widely popular street food that mixes pasta, fried rice, and chickpeas together.

A lot of fans of the national team will be gathering at Masrawy Egyptian Kitchen in Mississauga, a staple for modern Egyptian food, as they’ll be playing all the games.

The fan: Former Iran national team member Reza Abedian, 60.

Cheering for: Iran is set to make its fourth straight World Cup appearance despite questions surrounding its participation in the global tournament due to the ongoing conflict with the U.S. Toronto has 37,895 people claiming Iranian origin.

Why they cheer: When Abedian was a teenager, he rose up the ranks in the Iranian soccer world and became a player for Persepolis F.C., one of the most successful and popular soccer clubs in Iran and all of Asia.

It led to a 12-year career with the team and Abedian playing about 15 to 17 games for the Iranian national team. Now the 60-year-old gives back his knowledge and expertise by running his own soccer academy — Excel Pro Soccer Academy — in Toronto.

“If I don’t have soccer, I’m done, I’d die,” joked Abedian.

His world revolved around soccer, so it made sense to continue being around his true love and share his knowledge with the next generation, as many in the community had relied on his expertise.

Abedian’s academy is one of the largest Persian community soccer academies in the GTA, having been established in 2009. He coaches about 250 players, has five teams in the Ontario Soccer League, and he has helped send a dozen players professionally overseas to countries such as Spain and Portugal.

He was just shy of making Iran’s 1998 World Cup roster in country’s second appearance in the global tournament. He was one of the three final cuts and it was one of the most heartbreaking moments he experienced. Sometimes he wishes he was born 20 years later, as soccer has now grown immensely in Iran, from a semi-professional environment to a nation that has now become a regular in the World Cup.

“The national team is everything to me because with the national team we can show the Iranian culture, the Iranian attitude, everything to the world,” said Abedian, who attended the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

It’s the biggest sport in the country and those from his homeland often celebrate victories by storming the streets and honking cars.

Iran is expected to play three of their World Cup games in Los Angeles and Seattle despite the ongoing conflict that started with co-ordinated airstrikes from the U.S. and Israel targeting Iran’s military leadership and nuclear program.

The Iranian federation will provide Abedian with tickets to attend this year’s tournament as they do for former players who have represented the country. It’s one of the coolest sporting atmospheres he’s been in.

Iran, ranked 21st in the world, was one of the first teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, their seventh appearance and fourth consecutive. Abedian believes Iran has a chance to get out of the group stage for the first time.

“Because of war, these days, it’s very difficult for the people of Iran and for the national team,” said Abedian. “If the team comes to the U.S., we’ll join and come to the stadium. No problem, win or lose … it’s very good for the (Iranian) people to watch the game and enjoy the game.”

How to cheer: Persian cuisine is a must for supporters with Kotlet, a traditional pan-fried meat and potato patty, are often on the table.

Kebabs are also considered a cornerstone of Persian food, which includes lamb, beef or chicken grilled over charcoal, often served with rice. Salad Olivieh, also known as potato salad, is another staple for get-togethers, as well as nuts, for which Iran is a global leader in terms of production. Abedian says it’s frowned upon to watch national team games alone.

The fan: Sports and entertainment manager Hayden Burford, 36.

Cheering for: New Zealand, which has two group-stage matches in Vancouver. A total of 1,235 people in Toronto claim the southwestern Pacific nation as their country of ethnic or cultural origin, according to Statistics Canada.

Why they cheer: Burford’s eyes were opened when New Zealand qualified for the World Cup in 2010, which put soccer on the map for many Kiwi fans. New Zealand went undefeated at the tournament (the only country to do so), drawing in all three of its matches.

“That’s the fact New Zealand football fans like to hold on to,” said Buford, who was a university student at the time and remembers the country going wild. “We haven’t been to a World Cup since, it’s been 16 years. That’s why I think this World Cup is such an exciting time.”

The 36 year old is now a board member of Kia Ora Canada, an organization that connects Kiwi expatriates and Canadians. During an international men’s soccer tournament in Canada last year, Burford emailed the CEO of the New Zealand national team, pitching an event before their match. The team agreed, leading to a “welcome Haka” ceremonial performance for the New Zealand team.

Once word got out that New Zealand would play in Vancouver, Burford knew he wanted to do something similar. He’s collaborating with the national team on hosting pre-match events, with thousands of fans expected to travel from around the world. “People see this as a once-in-a-lifetime sort of a trip,” said Burford.

The Kiwis are the lowest-ranked team in the World Cup this year. Burford argues that doesn’t define them, since they’re in the Oceania Football Confederation and don’t always get to play the best of the best.

“We’ve never won a World Cup game, so if we can go there and win a game, for us, it’s like winning the World Cup,” said Burford.

Back in 2019, Burford moved to Canada on a two-year working visa, settling in the city. He was eager to see what a North American sporting environment was like, and arrived during the Toronto Raptors championship run in 2019.

“That was very eye-opening, seeing how passionate … especially the Toronto sports fans are,” said Burford. “As someone from New Zealand, we just don’t get to experience that much.”

How to cheer: Hemingway’s has been Toronto’s home away from home for New Zealanders for 42 years. Whatever match the country competes in, it’s almost guaranteed that it will be aired at the Yorkville location.

Burford usually has a mince or cheese pie, a Kiwi staple. Fish and chips are also big, as Burford will be at the restaurant for the group stage match against Iran before travelling to watch his country play in person against Egypt and Belgium.

“We’ll get as many Kiwis as possible there. I think we’ll be packed,” said Burford. “Going off like other World Cups … it’ll be hard to get a seat. I think it’ll be buzzing and there’ll be a good atmosphere.”

The fan: Retired broadcaster Paul Hendrick, 69.

Cheering for: Spain, winners of the World Cup in 2010, will make its 17th World Cup appearance. They are ranked second in the world by FIFA heading into the tournament. The Western European nation has a population of just under 50 million; 44,625 people in Toronto claim Spanish ethnic or cultural origins.

Why they cheer: Hendrick, best known for bringing his passion for the Maple Leafs to television through his 41-year broadcast career, had another sporting love all along: soccer. His specific interest lies in Real Madrid, and of course all things Spanish soccer.

Hendrick fell in love with the beautiful game around the same time he fell in love with his future wife, Alicia, who is from Spain, and whose brothers made sure “Hennie” never missed a Spanish result.

“I went there 39 years ago on my honeymoon, and I wanted to choose a team, so I chose Real Madrid,” said Hendrick. “You can compare their history to that of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I appreciated their history. I could never cheer for Barcelona. That would be like cheering for the Montreal Canadiens.

“I’ve been with them through ups and downs. When they’ve won Euros (European championships) my heart has burst. And when Spain won their World Cup in 2010, without a word of exaggeration, I had tears coming down the side of my face, because finally, as a country, they were able to put it together and accomplish an incredible feat.”

Spain has been one of international soccer’s most consistent teams. They reached the semifinals twice and the quarterfinals six times, but have not reached the last eight since winning it all in 2010.

“They’ve only won one World Cup,” says Hendrick. “They should have won many more. But they’re a country of many regions and couldn’t win until they learned to play as a team. Not to say they’re going to do it now, but they’ve got a really good shot at it come July.”

No players from Real Madrid were named to the Spanish squad, but Hendrick is looking forward to seeing 18-year-old Barcelona phenom Lamine Yamal make his World Cup debut.

“This kid is one of the top three players on the planet, but he has a hamstring injury,” he said.

Hendrick, a native of Noranda, Que., will of course be rooting for Canada as well. So what if Canada plays Spain down the line?

“It ain’t going to happen,” he said.

How to cheer: Hendrick will watch the Spanish team from home with his in-laws. “They’re fervent Spanish soccer fans,” he said.

For Spanish supporters, there are plenty of public places to gather. The Firkin on Bay St. (1075 Bay St.) is the Toronto home for Real Madrid fans while The Pint Public House (277 Front St. W.) typically hosts the official Penya Blaugrana de Toronto (the FC Barcelona supporters club).

The fan: Bookkeeper Mike Andrade, 36

Cheering for: Cape Verde, a country of around 524,000 situated off the coast of West Africa. There are 150 immigrants from Cape Verde located in Toronto. This is their first World Cup appearance.

Why they cheer: The tournament is an opportunity for Andrade to get closer to his father’s heritage and learn more about his lineage.

When his father turned 18 years old in the 1960s, Cape Verde was in the middle of a 13-year war for independence under Portuguese colonial rule. At the time, it was mandatory for men to enlist in the military, so Andrade’s father instead fled for a better life to Europe. He’d work on a shipping boat, living in a few different countries, before the ship made a stop in Montreal.

“My dad got sick, so he was hospitalized in Montreal, but the boat had to leave, so he ended up just staying in Canada. Eventually, he found his way to Toronto and then ended up meeting my mom,” said Andrade.

He remembers visiting the island when he was 10 years old and witnessing an emotional reunion between his father and aunt, who had met again for the first time since he fled as a teenager.

“My dad doesn’t cry that often, so I think that’s what hit me the most,” said Andrade.

The Toronto native didn’t think in his lifetime that he’d see Cape Verde in a World Cup. Fifteen years ago, he couldn’t even find store selling a national team jersey online that would ship to Canada. It’s one of the smallest nations set to debut in the tournament.

The expanded format of the World Cup has made it easier for smaller nations to qualify for the big tournament. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar saw 32 teams compete, as this will be the first year it expands to 48 teams after FIFA announced the decision to increase the field in 2017.

“To any Cape Verdean, they feel as if Cape Verde won the World Cup just by being there,” said Andrade. “That’s how massive this is and that’s definitely the way I look at it.”

As he’s gotten older, Andrade has been eager to learn more about his Cape Verdean roots. During their World Cup run, it allowed him to closely follow the national team as he kept track of the dates of their qualification games and watched them intensely.

“At some point, I remember looking at the standings of their group and thinking like, ‘Oh my God, they might actually make it!’ ” said Andrade.

In September, Andrade made sure he scheduled his day around watching Cape Verde try and inch one step closer to qualification. They needed a miracle against powerhouse Cameroon — a nation that holds the record for most World Cup appearances by an African nation with eight.

Despite being 22 places below Cameroon in international rankings, a stunning 1-0 win put them in a prime position to make their first-ever World Cup.

“It was a huge upset,” said Andrade. “When they scored, everyone in the stadium obviously freaked out. After the game, they ran onto the field, which they were told not to do afterwards, but they were just so filled with joy. That was probably a day where I had never felt more proud to have Cape Verde roots.”

How to cheer: Andrade won’t be in Toronto himself; he will be flying to Houston to watch the country’s debut in the World Cup against Saudi Arabia. But those who want to cheer for the island nature can visit Toronto official FIFA Fan Festival, where the team plays Uruguay on Sunday, June 21 at 6 p.m.

The fan: Communication consultant Marwan Abu Ghanem, 60.

Cheering for: Saudi Arabia, which has qualified for seven World Cups and will host in 2034. Located on the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia has a population of 35.3 million people; there are 12,710 immigrants from Saudi Arabia living in Toronto, according to Statistics Canada.

Why they cheer: Abu Ghanem knew he would follow Saudi Arabia when they made it to the World Cup for the first time.

Originally from Lebanon, he’d been a football fan since childhood, using whatever money he got from his parents to buy newspapers to keep up with the scores.

He moved to the United Arab Emirates in 1989, travelling to neighbouring Saudi Arabia every now and then. He watched the team debut at the World Cup debut in 1994, and that hooked him. “I was watching it while in Dubai on TV and it was amazing,” said Abu Ghanem.

In 2022, he got to watch the team play a friendly against Iceland in the U.A.E. capital of Abu Dhabi, cheering them on from the stands. His passion for the sport led him to write “Kullul Arqaam,” an Arabic history book about the World Cup from 1930 to 2014.

“I wrote it all by myself. It was really something I was proud of,” said Abu Ghanem.

A volunteer at Mississauga’s Arabic Cultural Club of Ontario over the past four years, he came to Canada in 2006, and is ready to catch the World Cup in Toronto. “Being a Canadian as well, I am also a fan of Canada,” he said.

For Abu Ghanem, the best part of this year’s World Cup is that, while he won’t get to watch his team play live, he’ll get to see a game in Toronto on July 2, a knockout-stage match with teams that remain to be determined

“I couldn’t believe it when my niece managed to get a ticket for me,” said Abu Ghanem. “Potentially England or Portugal. Or Colombia or Croatia. It’s gonna be a very strong team.”

How to cheer: Saudi Arabia games will on screens around town, from The Porch on Adelaide Street West when they take on Uruguay on June 15, to Dublin Calling’s Adelaide and Danforth locations when they take on Cape Verde on June 26, to the FIFA Fan Festival when they confront powerhouse Spain on June 21.

The fan: Air Canada worker Carlos Zeballos, 54.

Cheering for: Uruguay, a perennial threat, won the whole thing in 1930 and 1950, two of its 14 World Cup appearances to date (this year makes it 15). Tucked onto South America’s Atlantic coast, the country has a population of 3.5 million; 1,475 people of Uruguayan origin live in Toronto, according to Statistics Canada.

Why they cheer: Zeballos had a long soccer career in Canada.

The former Canadian National Soccer League player joined the Scarborough Astros in 1993 and signed with Toronto Supra in 1997, helping the club secure a post-season spot.

“I played my whole life. I played here competitively, I played in Uruguay competitively,” says the Canadian-born Zeballos. “I can’t see myself not being around soccer.”

Growing up in Canada, Zeballos became involved in Club Uruguay Toronto, a community organization that hosted games and let people watch soccer together every weekend in Downsview.

“It’s so gratifying that we have a World Cup here,” said Zeballos. “Many cities will go on forever with never having a World Cup … and it’s the best sport in the world for me.”

One of his fondest soccer memory (without being on the pitch) was the historic 3-3 draw between Uruguay and Senegal at the 2002 World Cup. Zeballos was in the stands behind the net and watched his country come back from a 3-0 deficit in the second half.

“Was one of those games of a lifetime,” said Zeballos, who commemorates the game with a signed soccer ball from the 2002 Uruguay national team: “A memento from that time that I’m happy that I’ve kept it all these years.”

Now he’s ready to make new memories in Toronto. “Uruguayans are very proud people. We’re a country of only three million people, but have accomplished so much in soccer over time.”

How to cheer: Uruguayans in Toronto are hosting a watch party at Ciociaro Social Club in Woodbridge on June 26, when Uruguay tackles powerhouse Spain.

The fan: Brand ambassador Olivier De Bregeas, 48.

Cheering for: France has made 16 appearances at the World Cup and won the tournament in 1998 and 2018. They also made it to the final in 2006 and 2022. Approximately 66 million people live in France; 85,715 people in Toronto claim French origins.

Why they cheer: The lifelong soccer fan came to Canada 16 years ago, starting in Montreal then moving to Toronto.

The Cabbagetown resident played competitive soccer for 15 years, having been born and raised in Paris. The 48-year-old married father of two is a lifelong fan of Paris Saint-Germain, to the point he co-founded a supporter’s group in Toronto eight years ago.

He has two favourite players: David Ginola and Zinedine Zidane. Ginola made 17 appearances for France internationally in a playing career that started in 1985 and lasted until 2002 before he joined the broadcast booth.

“If you know Ginola, you know how old I am,” he said. “And Zinedine Zidane, he’s the GOAT.”

Zidane represented France 108 times and three times was named FIFA world player of the year in a career that spanned from 1994 to 2006.

His family is all French but have become Canadian citizens.

“France is our home, but we have been in Toronto so long that we feel like we belong. We are Canadian as well. So of course we are going to root for our friends, our Team Number Two.

“And I’ll tell you something, it’s time for Canada to shine. This generation of talent they have. I do believe in Canada’s chance in the group stage for sure, and I hope they can go on further.”

How to cheer: All French national fans are invited to Ricarda’s (134 Peter St., near Queen Street).

“They welcomed us in 2018 for the World Cup — by the way, we won that one — so that’s a good premonition for us. It’s going to be full of memories,” said De Bregeas. “We all thought we could have a little piece of France somewhere in the city of Toronto.”

De Bregeas and his friends in the French community are organizing the watch party, like they do for the games or recent Champions League victors PSG.

The cuisine hasn’t been finalized. But a croque monsieur (a ham and cheese sandwich but with high-end cheese like Gruyère and Parmesan with béchamel sauce) would be welcome. And of course fries, or frites.

“I have big expectations for this tournament, and I hope we can lift the Cup again,” he said.

The fan: Investment specialist El-Ousmane Sakho, 52.

Cheering for: Senegal has made three straight World Cup appearances and hopes to become the first African nation to hoist the international trophy. It’s a country of more than 19 million in West Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean coast; there are 300 people in Toronto with Senegalese origin.

Why they cheer: A year prior to the 1998 World Cup in France, Sakho would wake up at 6:30 a.m. every Sunday, take a train and travel for training as a volunteer steward at the tournament inside the Stade de France.

“I still have my medal and they give me a certificate,” said Sakho, who cherishes the memory to this day. “It’s here with me. I still have it. Since 1998, I have it with me.”

Sakho moved from Senegal to France to study finance at university before coming to Canada in 2002. The first World Cup the 52-year-old watched was in 1986, but Senegal hadn’t yet made an appearance in the tournament, which led him to cheer for France, a country that colonized Senegal and featured several Senegalese players.

It wasn’t until Sakho’s first year living in downtown Toronto that Senegal made its first World Cup appearance. It was an overwhelming feeling — Senegal’s first-ever match was against France as they shocked the world by defeating the reigning champions 1-0 to open the tournament.

“It was very, very emotional,” said Sakho, who remembers the game like it was yesterday. “I remember back home, nobody slept that night. It was crazy. I was thinking we would go all the way.”

Senegal became the second African team to reach the quarterfinals in tournament history, but lost to Turkey. They’ve now made three straight World Cup appearances, becoming a tournament staple. Sakho cheered on the team in the 1980s, following legendary Senegalese defender Roger Mendy. He became a key figure for the national team and played for AS Monaco in the French league — a team Sakho supports to this day because of Mendy.

Sakho doesn’t think it’s impossible that Senegal could be the first African national to hoist the World Cup trophy, with several players competing on top teams across the world. It wouldn’t be a celebration just for his country, Sakho says, but it would likely be a holiday for all of Africa.

Last June, they beat England 3-1 in a friendly and have lost only two of their previous 30 matches, excluding penalty shootouts. Earlier this year, they went on a streak of 17 wins in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The country has extra motivation after the controversial AFCON final in January, where Senegal initially won 1-0, but forfeited after protesting a late penalty by walking off the field for more than 15 minutes. The Confederation of African Football has since stripped Senegal of the title and instead declared Morocco winners. It led to the Senegalese Football Federation appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“This thing is completely a joke,” said Sakho. “I’m 1,000 per cent certain that the tribunal will cancel the decision. Even if they don’t cancel it, we are still champions because we (won) it in the field.”

Senegal is set to open the World Cup against France and then plays Norway and Iraq. They are considered likely to come out of their group. Sakho is already looking at the possibility that Senegal runs into Morocco this World Cup.

“They have a good team. They can go far,” said Sakho. “We never know, (maybe) we can meet them further down the road, if we go far as well … my dream is to meet Morocco in the World Cup.”

How to cheer: Sakho rarely ever goes out in public these days to watch games. It’s too much to handle for him, because he needs to concentrate while watching Senegal compete. Fans of Senegal are expected to gather at PendAfrica, a restaurant in North York.

During games, fans will eat Thieboudienne, the country’s national dish of fish and rice, along with jollof rice, which also originates from Senegal. Yassa (marinated chicken with onions and lemon) is also a popular dish.

Sakho will have the Senegalese flag out for the country’s first game and also has plans to go to their third game in Toronto against Iraq.

“I have jerseys. My kids have jerseys. I’m waiting for the new one,” said Sakho. “I am waiting for a new jersey with the two stars.”

The fan: Personal injury lawyer Joseph Zayouna, 49

Cheering for: Iraq was the last nation to qualify for this 48-team World Cup, ending a 40-year drought as they have only made one appearance, in 1986. Iraq is a country of 46 million in West Asia located in the Middle East, while 7,490 people of Iraqi origin live in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Growing up in Iraq during the country’s first World Cup gave Joseph Zayouna his love for soccer.

He recalled the times he spent crowding around a TV in 1986 at social clubs or a friend’s house to catch a game, moments that brought everyone in the neighbourhood together.

“I remember all the celebrations, the music, people on the streets, the flags. It was a great time, even though I was only really young,” said Zayouna.

Even after coming to Canada, soccer was still a big part of his life. Zayouna played in high school and helped organize recreational games with the Iraqi community in Thornhill. Friends and family of different ages and skills would come together to share the game.

“It’s just so much fun for all of us to come together and play,” said Zayouna.

While he doesn’t hit the pitch as much as he used to, he’s glad to see the next generation continue the sport and still host games in the neighbourhood.

Over the years, the Iraqi community has grown in Toronto and gatherings have played a big part in continuing their soccer traditions. Zayouna said he couldn’t be prouder of his country for making it back to the World Cup and the moments leading up to the tournament feel “surreal.”

“Canada is home now, but Iraq’s always my home as well,” said Zayouna. “For Iraq, your home country to make it, it’s a big deal for us.”

The most important part is finding a place to catch the game.

“We usually go somewhere, we choose a place to watch, either a friend’s house, a restaurant or somewhere that we can watch the games and it brings everybody together,” said Zayouna. “It’s that unity that soccer brings, you can’t compare it to anything else.”

How to cheer: Sahara Restaurant in Mississauga is hosting watch parties for Iraq as they take on Norway on June 16, France on June 22, and Senegal on June 26. They will sell jerseys and are available for reservations. The City of Mississauga is also hosting free outdoor screenings of the Norway and France games at Celebration Square.

The fan: President of the Norwegian Club of Toronto Thomas Jansen, 37.

Cheering for: Norway will return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, led by captain Martin Odegaard and superstar striker Erling Haaland. The country has never made it past the round of 16, but Norway did win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1995. Approximately 5.7 million people live in Norway, with roughly 50,000 Norwegian nationals in Canada and 8,670 people claim Norwegian heritage in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Jansen moved to Canada in 2021 and brought his love of soccer with him to Toronto. He only just got his citizenship this past April, a change he’s excited for as he sees Norway and Canada share the same “high standards of living.”

Before suffering an injury, he played in the Extreme Toronto Sports Club soccer league in the city with his friends once a week. But that hasn’t deterred the lifelong soccer fan.

Growing into adulthood, he was always watching and playing soccer — until last year, when he tore his Achilles tendon. While he doesn’t follow a particular club team, he’s always leaned toward cheering for Manchester United in the Premier League.

“We have a young and exciting team right now,” Jansen said of Norway, nodding toward his favourite player, Odegaard. “He makes it happen.”

How to cheer: For Norwegian fans, it’s best to keep an eye on the Norwegian Club of Toronto social media pages for watch parties.

Planning the meetups are still on the club’s to-do list, Jansen said, but he is expecting dozens of people to show up. It’ll likely be a familiar bar or pub to the club’s members and likely be inside downtown Toronto.

The club was started roughly five decades ago to connect Norwegian nationals to their community, traditions and culture. Many of its founding members are still involved and are thrilled to see Norway back on the world soccer stage this year.

“People have been waiting for this for a long time,” Jansen said.

He believes Norway has a good chance of becoming the “underdog story” in this year’s tournament. Most club members believe that Norway earned its spot in the tournament because of its expansion from 32 to 48 teams this year.

“I’m just excited that we finally get to watch our own team during the World Cup.”

The fan: DJ Nicolas Panart, 36.

Cheering for: Argentina is the World Cup defending champion, led by legend Lionel Messi. The second-largest nation in South America has won the trophy three times. There are an estimated 19,530 Argentines living in Canada, with 4,105 people in Toronto claiming Argentinian origins.

Why they cheer: After Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals, Panart booked a flight halfway around the world from Canada to Qatar and saw his team go all the way. He said his heart was pounding throughout the final win over France.

“I think a lot of people would agree that was probably the best World Cup final soccer game that anybody’s seen, with a 3-3 draw and then going to penalty shots,” says Panart, who grew up in Canada.

Rooting for Argentina is a tradition passed down from his parents, who often told him stories about Diego Maradona, one of the sport’s all-time greats. As a kid, Panart loved to play the FIFA video game and often wore a Gabriel Batistuta replica jersey.

Buying a last-minute plane ticket to Qatar in hopes of witnessing history was a no-brainer. What he experienced was something he wishes every soccer fanatic could enjoy: “Right after the birth of my son, it’d be number two.”

Only Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) have won back-to-back men’s World Cups, but Panart thinks Argentina has a shot.

“The true meaning of brotherhood lives in the Argentinian team; those other teams wish they had that.”

Messi is expected to suit up for his sixth and last World Cup. At 38, he holds the record for Cup matches played (26) and continues to dominate with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Panart says Argentina’s 2022 triumph stamped Messi as the greatest player in soccer history.

“Everybody doubted Messi because he didn’t have a World Cup. Maradona did, Pelé did. In order to be the greatest of all time, you have to have a World Cup.”

How to cheer: Panart says Argentina fans often gather on game days for an asado, or traditional barbecue with slow-cooked meats.

Favourite items include empanadas and choripán (grilled chorizo). Mate, a caffeine-rich infused herbal drink, is the popular beverage and part of Messi’s regimen. During the 2022 World Cup, the team reportedly travelled with 240 kilograms of the stuff.

“I believe that the Argentinian team for me represents a whole bunch, represents love, family, unity,” Panart says. “Argentina brings a lot of people together.”

For casual fans, Messi and Co. are a major draw, so finding Argentina on a screen around town won’t be a problem — finding a seat might be the challenge.

The fan: Sales associate Adel Zanoun, 28.

Cheering for: Algeria returns to the World Cup after a 12-year hiatus. The North African nation is the tenth-largest country in the world by size. There’s a large population from the country living in Canada; most of those — 72,835 — reside in Quebec. Some 1,290 people in Toronto claim Algerian origin.

Why they cheer: Zanoun still has flashbacks to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when his home country almost defeated Germany in the round of 16.

That was the last time they made the tournament, losing 2-1 in extra time; the Germans went on to win their fourth World Cup.

“It was a crazy game,” said Zanoun, an avid soccer fan. “Actually, I think every football fan remembered this game … even with us losing, it’s still like a good souvenir for every Algerian fan.”

Soccer is Zanoun’s first and only real love and he tries to play at least once a week. His uncle, who lives in the United Kingdom, got him obsessed with the game at a young age as he learned about English soccer and became a lifelong Arsenal fan. His first souvenirs were anything that had to do with Arsenal, as he’s on a high right now after watching them secure the Premier League title.

“The feeling was sick. I wanted to scream,” said Zanoun. “I still want to scream like all the time.”

He hopes that exhilarating feeling continues into this World Cup as he prepares to watch Algeria return to the world stage. Seeing them miss the last two World Cups was disappointing for Zanoun. They failed to make it in 2022 after losing to Cameroon in the qualification process.

He hates when people talk about who is more deserving, but he might make an exception there. “I don’t want to talk about referees, but it was a bit weird also that day we missed so many chances, and we lost at the last minute of the game at home.”

This year, a historic 10 African countries qualified for the FIFA World Cup due to the expanded 48-team tournament format. Algeria will open against the defending champions Argentina and superstar Lionel Messi, in a group that also includes Austria and Jordan.

Results matter more than qualification to Zanoun, who doesn’t see why they can’t finish top two in their group.

How to cheer: For Algerians, music and soccer go hand in hand when celebrating and watching the national team, as he expects new chants and traditions in their return to the World Cup.

“When we feel we need to express something, we do it in music, and that’s our best way to do it,” said Zanoun.

When it comes to food, pizza is popular for Zanoun and other Algerians when watching a game. Also popular is mahjouba, a crepe-styled flatbread that typically includes a mixture of onion, garlic, tomato, peppers and spices.

The fan: Recruiter Mike Noehammer, 31.

Cheering for: Austria, an Alpine nation of just over 9 million in Central Europe; 11,700 people of Austrian heritage live in Toronto. Austria has been in seven World Cups before this year.

Why they cheer: Noehammer has been waiting for this moment for 28 years.

When Austria kicks off its first World Cup appearance since 1998, Noehammer will be in his parents’ basement in Mississauga with his eyes glued to the television screen.

Today, he has a wiener schnitzel — a classic Austrian dish, consisting of a breaded and fried veal, chicken or pork cutlet — in hand as he sits inside Sin & Redemption in downtown Toronto, right across the street from where his grandparents got married at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

He’ll likely have roast potatoes and sauerkraut to go with it and, without question, a Stiegl, one of the country’s most popular beers. It’s the only way he knows how to watch Austrian soccer this World Cup.

“A schnitzel dinner isn’t complete without a Stiegl in my opinion,” said Noehammer, laughing.

The 31-year-old doesn’t have any recollection of Austria’s last appearance in the FIFA World Cup. But can you blame him? The Toronto native was just four years old at the time.

During the 2002 World Cup, Noehammer witnessed classmates who were Polish, Portuguese and Italian enjoy showing off their country’s flags and jerseys. Now in 2026, he’ll get to experience an adrenalin rush like none other, watching his country on the world stage.

“With Austria not having the greatest success at the FIFA World Cup qualifying and at the Euros, I always sort of felt left out that the country of my heritage wasn’t there,” said Noehammer.

Noehammer’s family immigrated to Canada in the early 1950s, after the Second World War, to establish a new life and seek better opportunities. Life in Austria wasn’t stable; a lot of uneasiness existed.

The World Cup is a chance for Noehammer to share the pride of his country, show off the colours of its flag, wear his jersey in public and show how proud he is of his grandparent’s lineage and sacrifice.

Back at the World Cup, Austria is a team that has surprised many in the soccer world. It’s a far cry from when they co-hosted the 2008 UEFA European Championship and pundits claimed Austria had no business being there, with one reporter even suggesting they forfeit their host spot to avoid embarrassment.

That’s when Noehammer’s support for Austria took off. With no expectations, the country shocked the world to grab a late draw with Poland in a group stage match.

“I remember celebrating so heavy just because we weren’t supposed to be there,” said Noehammer, who still laughs about the moment. “To spoil Poland’s party, to steal points from them and to come away from the tournament with something, that’s when I knew, this is my team going forward.”

Noehammer has closely followed the careers of Austrian players, including David Alaba, who has quickly come up the ranks and has become the heart and soul of the country.

Austria enters the tournament in the same group as reigning World Cup champion Argentina and Noehammer won’t lie and admit that Lionel Messi does scare him. Argentina will likely be the biggest challenge, but with Alaba leading Austria, he believes they have a chance.

In the last Euros, Austria was in a group filled with the top dogs, the Netherlands and France, but came out on top of the group.

“We are not just at the World Cup, but we’re there to compete,” said Noehammer. “I couldn’t be more proud. I’m just happy to see them on the world stage … we can show the world who we are and how far we’ve come as a program.”

How to cheer: The team isn’t making it to the big screen at Toronto’s official fan festival, at least not in the early rounds. But if you’re pulling for Austria, the Adidas Home of Soccer at Stackt Market promises to put every match on a big screen. Entry is first-come, first-served, and the space is closed Mondays.

The fan: Pastry chef Donia Alansari, 22

Cheering for: Jordan makes its debut in the World Cup as one of eight Arab nations competing this year. Approximately 17,530 Jordanians call Canada home, with 1,365 people in Toronto claiming Jordanian origins.

Why they cheer: Alansari’s family business and food truck, Donia Donair, has been a staple in downtown Toronto for the last five years.

Now, they’ll have the opportunity to serve soccer-crazed fans Jordanian food at the FIFA Fan Festival while watching their country make its first appearance at the World Cup.

“We were honestly so shocked. We were like, ‘No way this is real,’ ” said Alansari. “Even right now, it hasn’t hit us completely. We’re getting ready, but it hasn’t hit us completely to the point where we’re like, ‘Oh, we’re in the 2026 World Cup.’ ”

This will be Jordan’s first World Cup, as the country secured its spot last June. The national team has surged, making the FIFA Arab Cup final in December, but fell just short in the championship game to powerhouse Morocco. It was heartbreaking for Alansari and many other Jordanians who are still recovering from that loss, but who now have the World Cup.

Alansari, a pastry chef, followed in her father’s footsteps and joined the family business at a young age. Her dad grew up loving food and makes his own recipes, and has his own homemade sauces and chicken shawarmas, similar to how he did back home in Jordan.

“He really wanted to bring the Jordanian aspect to Canada through the food scene,” said Alansari.

In 2019, her father decided to open up his own food truck in Edmonton and never looked back. Five years ago, they decided to relocate here and drove the truck for five days to Toronto. These days, it can often be spotted on Queens Quay and is a staple in local events like the CNE.

Food in the Jordanian culture is known for bringing people together, during the good times and bad. Donia Donair is excited to expose people to the culture, which includes recipes and ingredients Alansari’s father brings from his homeland.

“It’s just amazing that we’re bringing everybody together and we still have options for everybody and it’s a huge international event. And we’re so glad that Toronto is one of the host cities.”

How to cheer: Alansari plans to take a lunch break during Jordan’s World Cup matches to cheer on the national team. For Jordanian food during the game, don’t look further than Donia Donair’s food truck at the FIFA Fan Festival as they’ll be selling their classic shawarma, beef and falafels to hungry soccer fans.

The fan: Daycare co-ordinator Kelly Neto, 32

Cheering for: Portugal makes its ninth appearance in the World Cup with hopes of capturing its first trophy. A total of 85,165 people of Portuguese origin live in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Neto has vivid memories of her Portugal-themed birthday party that celebrated the national team making it all the way to the UEFA Euro 2004 final against Greece.

Despite being the host nation, Portugal lost 1-0. “It wasn’t a super happy time,” recalled Neto. “But going all the way to the finals, it was so emotional, seeing everyone so excited and so joined together for one nation.”

Since then, the 32-year-old — whose parents are both Portuguese — has been emotionally invested in the team and is hopeful this will be Portugal’s year as they gear up for the seventh straight World Cup appearance.

Portugal is in a group with DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia and they’re considered the favourites.

During Portugal matches, it’ll be hard for Neto to stay still. She played soccer competitively for 12 years, all the way into university, and often uses her playing experience to read and predict plays.

The first jersey she received was of that of Cristiano Ronaldo, which she still has despite it being too small for her now. She has a drawer with a section dedicated to Portugal jerseys, a collection of about 15 in red, white and black.

“People who just know me also gift me them, because they know I’m such a huge soccer fan,” said Neto.

With Ronaldo approaching the last leg of his career, Neto says the only major achievement he doesn’t have is a World Cup title. Considered one of the greatest to play the game, Ronaldo is set to play in his sixth World Cup, and many like Neto believe it would be great for him to close his career by winning it all.

Neto works at the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Center of Toronto. It’s a non-profit organization that serves the community and provides Portuguese and ESL classes, as well as a mini daycare program, which Neto helps run. A love of her culture and of teaching got her invested in working with kids.

“I love being Portuguese,” she said. “I feel like it really does connect me to the rest of the world. Learning Portuguese and speaking the language really does help open so many doors.”

How to cheer: During matches, traditional Portuguese snacks include Lupini beans, known as tremocos in Portugal. They’re often paired with beer or wine. Portuguese smoked sausage is a classic appetizer as well.

Little Portugal comes alive every World Cup and this year should be no exception. For instance, fans can gather inside Bairrada Churrasqueira in Little Portugal to watch games, as the restaurant plans to host a few hundred fans during the World Cup.

The fan: Sales manager Christian Kitadi, 39.

Cheering for: The Democratic Republic of Congo returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. The country has a population of more than 116 million people; 3,445 immigrants from the country live in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Kitadi fell in love with watching Congo almost 30 years ago when the team made an improbable comeback against Burkina Faso in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) bronze-medal game.

The national team was down 4-1 in the last few minutes before storming back to tie the game, sending it to penalties, where they emerged victorious. It’s considered one of the greatest comebacks in AFCON history.

“That was when I really fell in love with the national team because that’s when I started understanding sport, the passion behind it, the drive, and I remembered the emotions and the feelings,” said Kitadi.

The 39-year-old watched the game in Congo with family and friends and recalls the shock and disbelief on their faces. After that match, the streets were madness, fireworks went off and music was played until late into the night. Despite finishing third, it was like they had won it all.

Since that moment, Kitadi has supported the Congolese team through the ups, downs and many heartbreaks. He’s never witnessed the team in a World Cup until now.

“I don’t have to cheer for other countries, I’m cheering for my home country,” he said.

According to FIFA, the last World Cup final had the highest viewership ever, at about 1.4 billion people. Kitadi said the global tournament is an opportunity for some people to learn about his country who may not be able to locate it on a map.

Kitadi’s family moved to Canada after a change in regime in their home nation, due to a fear of persecution from the new leadership.

“Even though we left, we still had the country at heart,” said Kitadi, who now tries to go back at least once a year and has a tattoo of the country’s map on his arm.

Along with Portugal, Congo’s group includes Colombia and Uzbekistan. Kitadi sees this World Cup as a chance for redemption for his country, which was mired in corruption allegations in 1974. Officials at the time allegedly withheld player bonuses and issued threats to the team — after losing 9-0 to Yugoslavia — to not lose to Brazil by four or more goals if they wanted to return to the country safely.

“It’s a redemption. That’s what I am calling it,” said Kitadi. “To be able to redeem themselves and erase that bad history that they left behind.”

How to cheer: When Kitadi is watching a game, he enjoys having rice, cassava leaves (a Congolese staple), plus some fish and ntaba, which is grilled goat. His drink of choice is Vital’O, a popular soft drink, and if it’s beer, he’ll have the popular Nkoyi.

Mississauga’s Celebration Square is hosting a series of watch parties, including Congo games on the big screen June 17 and June 23.

Kitadi, though, will be on the road. He is buying tickets to watch his country play against Portugal to open up the World Cup. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime that Kitadi isn’t planning on missing.

He can’t wait to see how Congo fans — which he describes as loud and people who wear their emotions on their sleeves — pack stadiums in Houston, Atlanta and Mexico. For him, when the national anthem plays, it will really hit him that they made it.

Eight months ago, Kitadi placed a $150 bet of Congo winning the World Cup. If they win, he’ll win about $20,000.

“Pray for me,” he said.

The fan: Gulruh Egamoba, an admin at a non-profit, 41.

Cheering for: Uzbekistan, located in Central Asia, was long part of the U.S.S.R. The country didn’t have its own national team until 1992, joining FIFA in 1994. The team, known as the White Wolves, are rated 50th in the world by FIFA and has qualified for the World Cup for the first time. They are the first Central Asian nation and third former Soviet republic to do so. More than 38 million people live is Uzbekistan, where soccer is said to be the most popular sport. About 10,000 Uzbeks live in Canada, about half settling in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Egamoba, a mother of two from North York, came to Canada 20 years ago. She says the sport has grown on her.

“Lately I’m getting more interested,” said Egamoba. “I don’t know why. Maybe it’s my environment. There are a lot of soccer fans in my workplace.”

Part of it is just the fun of it all. Community fun. She remembers taking to the streets and partying during Russia’s run to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2018.

“We just joined all the fans,” she said. “We came together on the street in a Russian neighbourhood. All the fans celebrated. It was very interesting. Different. The entire street was filled with soccer fans.”

 She has plans to see Uzbekistan play Portugal in Houston on June 23 where, as a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, her loyalties might just be divided a little.

“But I also like how our new Uzbek player is doing. He’s very talented.”

That would be Abdukodir Khusanov, a defender at Manchester City and the first Uzbek to sign with an English Premier League team. He’s represented the country from the under-17 age group onward and earned his first senior call-up for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

How to cheer: It appears many Uzbeks are going to leave Toronto and go to the games in Houston, Mexico City and Atlanta to support their team.

For those left behind, no hard plans have been made.

“I’m really encouraging all my friends to gather together, and make plans where we can watch together,” said Egamoba. “We’ll try to make it supper, but it’s not in place yet.”

They — or others who want a feel of Uzbekistan — may end up at AsiaMix, at 180 Steeles Ave. W., west of Yonge St., near Little Russia.

“Basically there’s only one Uzbek restaurant in Toronto,” said Egamoba. “They have a TV.”

It’s an Asian fusion restaurant that features Uzbek cuisine including slow-cooked lamb, mutton, beef and rice.

The fan: TSN host Camila Gonzalez, 28.

Cheering for: Colombia, located in South America with a massive population of about 53 million, will make their seventh World Cup appearance and first since 2018. There are 10,340 people living in Toronto with Colombian origins. The country’s best finish in the tournament was in 2014 when they reached the quarterfinals.

Why they cheer: Gonzalez, originally from Colombia, moved to Canada when she was three years old and always saw how soccer was a contentious talking point in family gatherings, dividing those she loved most with their support of two teams from their hometown of Medellín.

“I can’t even remember a childhood memory where that wasn’t a conversation about Atletico Nacional or Independiente Medellín,” said Gonzalez.

After three consecutive World Cup appearances in 1990, 1994 and 1998, there was a 16-year dry spell for the national team. As a kid, Gonzalez didn’t know what it was like watching her homeland compete on the global stage.

It wasn’t until 2010, when Colombian singer, songwriter and dancer Shakira took the global spotlight with one of the most memorable World Cup anthems, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” ahead of the tournament in South Africa, where that started to change. Despite not having a team represented, Colombians felt like they were part of the World Cup, and it was the first time Gonzalez watched it closely.

“I remember going to school and people wouldn’t know … the music that we listened to. People wouldn’t know the food that I was bringing to school. People didn’t really know anything about Colombia,” said Gonzalez. “(Shakira) breaking in and representing Colombia on that international stage was something that made boys and girls of my age believe like, ‘OK, we can do something bigger than just our community.’ ”

Colombia returned in the next World Cup in 2014, reaching the quarterfinal stage before falling to Brazil. Gonzalez fondly recalls the tournament. She remembers getting into trouble at school for proudly wearing her Colombia jersey, which was against the uniform rules. And how whenever the team would score they would salsa choke, a vibrant dance that originated in Cali, a city near the Pacific coast of Colombia known as the salsa capital of the world.

Seeing the joy, pride and happiness on the field and in the stands meant so much to Gonzalez, who says her parents stopped watching soccer when violence occurred after the 1994 World Cup when centre-back Andrés Escobar was murdered just days after scoring an own goal that eliminated Colombia from the tournament.

“Twenty years later it was kind of like a glimmer of hope,” Gonzalez said. “The national team was nice to watch again.”

Before that World Cup, Gonzalez travelled to 15 countries for a TSN series called “Game and Glory.” While in a small town during one of the women’s team games, she witnessed how dozens of fans pulled up with plastic chairs outside the only coffee shop with a TV that was streaming the game.

Colombians will always show up to watch the national team, no matter what. During a 2016 Copa America match in Chicago against Chile, the game was paused due to a tornado warning as fans hid inside bathrooms for about an hour. Once it was over, they all returned to their seats.

How to cheer: It wouldn’t be a World Cup match without Colombians taking shots of Aguardiente or Guaro, a popular hard liquor in Colombia, flavoured with anise. Food must include Colombian empanadas with aji, a spicy Colombian hot sauce.

Gonzalez says most Canadians are used to empanadas from Argentina and Chile, but their version is made with corn flour and is deep fried, not once, but twice. Personally, she’ll be skipping out on eating as the anxiety will be on another level.

A large group of Colombian soccer fans are expected to gather in Mississauga at Golf On Lounge to watch games. Their group includes Portugal, DR Congo and Uzbekistan, who they open the tournament against on June 17.

“Winning the World Cup would change, I think, generations to come,” said Gonzalez. “It would inspire even more kids to join the sport. I think it would probably bring in a significant amount of funding to grassroots programs in the country. It would be mind-blowing. I get emotional even thinking about what that would mean for the country.”

The fan: Semi-retired Stewart Tyler, 63

Cheering for: England, which has missed only one World Cup in the past 44 years, has talent and hopes to lift the trophy for the first time since 1966. There’s a lot of English in Toronto — 244,995 people here claim it as their ethnic or cultural origin.

Why they cheer: Tyler still keeps his father’s ticket stub from the 1966 World Cup, when England reigned supreme. He was just four years old at time, but cherishes the memorabilia as England continues to chase that glory a second time.

“It’s coming home!” became the rallying cry of English football fans, made famous by the 1996 song “Three Lions” that is sung to this day.

But whether it’s quarterfinal exits, group-stage eliminations, round of 16 appearances or heartbreaking finishes, England fans have dealt with a lot of pain since. Those who support the national team will tell you it’s not for the faint of heart.

Despite that, England is a favourite to win the Cup this year. Tyler expects them to comfortably get out of a group that includes Croatia, Ghana and Panama, and to make a run for it all.

“It would be absolutely fabulous, a dream come true, for England to finally do it in my lifetime and I actually remember it. Because I don’t really remember” 1966, said Tyler, who moved to Canada in 1982.

“You grew up in England and nobody says, ‘Do you write with your left hand or your right hand?’ It’s ‘What foot you kick the ball with?’,” said Tyler. “I was kicking a ball before I was writing,” says the long-time West Ham United supporter, who is a part of official supporters club the Toronto Hammers.

This will be the third World Cup where Tyler will be in the stands for alongside some West Ham supporters. He loves how the tournament brings people together.

“It’s truly a global game and you get to see the passion from other supporters and other people around the world when you go to games,” said Tyler, who has tickets for five games in Toronto and one in Vancouver. “I think I probably paid more for tickets in my own hometown than it cost me to go to Doha,” admitted Tyler, referring to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Prior to 2022, Tyler was in France for the 1998 World Cup and watched England battle against Argentina in the round of 16, seeing one of the most infamous World Cup moments when David Beckham was sent out with a red card and England lost in penalties.

How to cheer: England soccer fans are known to watch games at the pub and have a pie and pint with them. They’ll also be eating traditional food like fish and chips and steak and kidney pie.

It’s been common for British fans to also have a dish of Indian curry alongside them while they watch World Cup matches. One fan visiting Brazil during the 2014 tournament reportedly paid more than $7,000 to have it flown in from England.

A large group of England supporters will watch games at well-known soccer hubs like Elephant & Castle on King Street West, The Queen and Beaver on Elm Street and Scotland Yard on The Esplanade. Tyler will take in matches at Gibbons Irish Pub.

The fan: Maintenance manager and corporate paralegal Goran Penava and Ana Katalinic, 59.

Cheering for: Croatia, a country that has established itself as a powerhouse nation, finishing third in 2022 and falling just short in the championship game in 2018 against France. This will be their seventh World Cup appearance since 1998, missing only the 2010 tournament. There are about 12,420 people of Croatian origin living in Toronto.

Why they cheer: Months before Toronto was set to host its first World Cup match, it was hard not to spot two of the biggest Croatian fans celebrating at the city’s 100-day kickoff event.

Decked out from head to toe in Croatian gear, Penava and Katalinic could be spotted by everyone in attendance in their checkered red, blue and white hats, giant foam fingers and jerseys. Mayor Olivia Chow even had to stop and take a photo.

“The jerseys, the checkers … it’s a brand now,” said Katalinic. “It’s not just the national identity. Whenever you see checkerboard and soccer, boom, you know it’s Croatia.”

“I want to jump as high as I can so everybody can see me,” added Penava, whose father even passed down his national team scarf when he died so Penava could always carry him with them.

As a little kid, Penava loved playing soccer back home, using rocks and stones and setting them up as a net. He and a wave of Croatians moved to Canada in 1988, just before Yugoslavia’s decade-long war in the early 1990s, due to the country’s struggling economy.

Penava was eager to find a similar community of Croatian soccer lovers to the one he had back home. Years prior, the Toronto Metros-Croatia team — founded by the Croatian diaspora community in Toronto in 1956 — won the North American Soccer League, which was the top league in the United States and Canada from 1968 to 1984. Penava himself played in leagues as he stayed involved with community soccer events.

When Croatia qualified for its first World Cup in 1998 and stunned everyone by finishing third, it was a historic moment for a country that was still recovering and establishing itself after years of war.

“Croatia was just sort of a ‘Wow, where did they come from?’ ” said Katalinic.

Katalinic and Penava met on a blind date. Their love for Croatian soccer never needed to be discussed; it was already ingrained in them. In 2018, they were both in Zagreb, Croatia, watching their country on a big-screen TV when they battled France for glory.

It felt like they needed a defibrillator when the game ended in penalties and France won.

“You could have heard a pin drop in the city,” recalls Katalinic. “People were just like, frozen watching.”

Despite the loss, the Croatian team flew in from Moscow following the tournament to a heroic welcome with nearly half a million people in attendance — roughly one-tenth of the country’s population — marking one of the largest public gatherings in their history.

How to cheer: Penava and Katalinic will have friends and family from across the world coming to Canada to support Croatia, as they plan to get together with other local Croatians to watch games at Croatian Parish Park in Mississauga.

A large grill is expected with a variety of dishes like cevapi, which are spiced meat kebabs, pljeskavica, a burger patty and raznjici, which are skewers. Red wine and beer will likely be the drinks in hand.

Penava will attend Croatia’s second World Cup group stage match in Toronto when they face Panama. Katalinic jokes that he sounds like an angry truck driver while watching games.

His hero is Luka Modric, the captain of the Croatia’s national team. He’s considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time and the best Croatian player ever. Penava will watch him play in what is most likely his final World Cup.

With how close the team has gotten in their past two World Cup appearances, the expectations are high for Croatia to get over the hump and make history.

“For us, picture it being carved into stone,” said Katalinic on what it would mean if Croatia won the World Cup. “All of these victories, one by one, they slowly become etched into the identity of Croatia.”

The fan: Two-time award-winning blogger Gio Marfo

Cheering for: Ghana, which is set to compete in its fifth World Cup, with 2010 being its best performance. The West African country is situated on the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, with a population of 35 million; 7,550 people in Toronto have Ghanian origins, according to Statistics Canada.

Why they cheer: Marfo fell in love with the Ghana team in the late 1990s when star players like John Paintsil, Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien were coming up and beat a talented under-20 Brazil squad, shocking many.

It was the biggest deal to him as a fan. Those same three players moved up the senior team, also known as the Black Stars, and helped Ghana qualify for its first World Cup in 2006.

“It was the biggest feeling in the world because finally you can see your own nation at the World Cup,” said 39-year-old Marfo. “And they weren’t just at the World Cup. They were competing at the highest level and every single guy on the pitch for Ghana (and) they were actually star players within their clubs.”

Starting in the 1960s, Ghana earned the nickname the “Brazil of Africa,” due to how they dominated the continent.

After a bad break up, Marfo started blogging about the Ghanian national team to reconnect with his culture as a first-generation Canadian and give fans of the team a place to go for information he once struggled to find.

“ I wanted to find a way to use that energy well, instead of, you know, be depressed,” said Marfo, who’s become the No. 1 source for those in North America. “That actually allowed me to heal my heart, believe it or not. The joy of football actually allowed me to heal my heart because it also mad. The joy of football actually allowed me to heal my heart e me an avid collector of Ghana national team gear.”

His goals for the blog started as just a way to unite Ghanians on a specific platform and understand the achievements of the Ghana Black Stars and the women’s senior national team, the Black Queens.

The most heartbreaking moment in the minds of Ghanians is from the 2010 World Cup, when Uruguay striker Luis Suarez played a ball with his hand to avoid giving up a goal in their quarterfinal match, which they later lost in penalties.

Many still don’t forget Suarez and see him as the one who stole Ghana’s dream of becoming the first African national team to make the World Cup semifinals. Marfo was even advised by his doctor after to stop putting his heart into it.

“Everybody was in shock, sadness, anger,” Marfo said of his family in Ghana. “It was multiple, multiple feelings. People didn’t even know how to feel.”

How to cheer: Ghanaian fans will be gathering in North York at African Chop Bar to watch World Cup matches. It will also be a spot for a lot of African nations competing in the tournament.

Superstitious supporters of the Black Stars tend to fast on game days. Fans are told to put their stomach aside for a few hours. When the team wins, then they can rejoice and eat.

“If your team loses, ‘Well, you guys didn’t win, so you’re not eating for the day,’ ” joked Marfo.

That tradition has changed as Ghanians have moved all over the globe and started having some of the country’s pastries while watching matches. That includes meat pie and Bofrot, which is a type of doughnut. When you pull up to a bar, you can also expect the classic jollof rice.

The fan: Airline employee Christopher Daraiche.

Cheering for: Panama, a country that will make its second World Cup appearance, and will play two games in Toronto. There’s an estimated 2,800 Panamanians people living in Canada, with 925 Panamanian immigrants in the city of Toronto.

Why they cheer: The first (and only) time Panama played in a World Cup in 2018, Toronto native Daraiche was shocked his country was tied with Belgium at halftime, with neither team conceding a goal.

His excitement quickly evaporated as Belgium came out of the break strong and Panama lost 3-0. Daraiche had been waiting for this moment for years. He can recall when he was a kid and Panama was just inches away from soccer glory in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The team surprised many by making it to the final, before losing to the United States in a shootout.

“That one would be our first major trophy, but unfortunately they didn’t make it,” said Daraiche.

Eight years after the team’s first World Cup appearance in Russia, the 32-year-old will get the chance to watch Panama try and make history, but this time he’ll get to do it in person after securing tickets to Panama’s game at Toronto Stadium against Ghana.

“This World Cup, I feel they can advance for real,” said Daraiche. “Now that World Cup is here in America, it’s another type of vibe … I’ve been waiting for this since I was a kid.”

Daraiche grew up in Montreal, but has moved back and forth to Panama over the years, first living in his mother’s homeland when he was seven. That’s when he saw the obsession around the national team. Despite the team not having much success, it rubbed off on him.

He goes back often to visit. Daraiche is excited to be among passionate Panama fans. For most of them, just being in the World Cup is a celebration in its own right.

He remembers 2018, when Panama scored its first ever goal in the tournament against England. The team was losing 6-0 and had no chance of mounting a comeback, but a goal in the 78th minute by Felipe Abdiel Baloy Ramirez etched his name in history.

“All the fans that were there at the stadium, they were celebrating that goal like if they were winning the game,” said Daraiche, who expects a similar atmosphere with Panama playing two games in Toronto.

Panama’s chances of advancing in the tournament are seen as low, with the country sharing a group with Ghana, Croatia and England. Even so, Daraiche is excited to see how they will perform against those top teams. He and his close friends in Panama will be active in their group chat during matches.

“It’s like one per cent of probability and 99 per cent of faith,” said Daraiche. “On the pitch, it’s 11 versus 11. There’s always a chance. In football you never know what’s going to happen.”

Daraiche points to Greece’s victory at Euro 2004 — widely considered one of the biggest shocks in international football history — as a reason for hope. He believes the first game will be crucial in determining if they will advance.

“I feel like people are thinking that the national team is going there for vacation,” said Daraiche. “If they (get) a good result on the first one, their chances to advance to the next round will be really impressive.”

How to cheer: As many Panama fans will be watching the first two games in the stadium, others plan to gather at Nathan Phillips Square from June 17 to 20 for an international drumming and unity festival.

Daraiche says most Panamanians will have chicken wings and a six-pack of beer while watching a game. After the match — for those that have been drinking — they’ll have sancocho, a chicken stew that is one of the country’s national dishes.

On the way to games, he expects to hear the unofficial national anthem of Panama, “Patria” by Ruben Blades, to kick of the excitement of the country being back on the world stage.