Canada's national soccer team opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 14, then moved to Vancouver to face Qatar four days later, attracting growing national attention to the sport [1, 2].
Soccer is now Canada’s fastest-growing sport, especially among youth. Nearly one million players are registered nationwide, a remarkable rise in a country long dominated by ice hockey and other traditional sports [1, 2].
Joel Waterman, 30, a Canadian defender who plays professionally for the Chicago Fire, highlighted the World Cup co-hosting as a significant driver behind soccer's surging popularity. "We're Canadian and obviously hockey has always been our top sport, but there's more kids playing soccer nowadays than ever before," Waterman said [1].
Waterman praised soccer’s accessibility, noting that children enjoy playing with just a ball anywhere. "It's really easy to get into and the kids love it. It's just a ball. They can play it anywhere. We want to see people playing in the streets," he added [1]. Canadian soccer officials and communities have stepped up efforts to develop grassroots programs and nurture the next generation of players [1, 2].
Born and raised near Vancouver in British Columbia, Waterman expressed pride in representing his home province and local clubs on the national stage. "It means the world. I'm only an hour from my hometown. This is obviously the province where I'm from. I have immense pride in representing those people that are from here and in those communities, representing my old clubs that I used to play for. So, it's a true honour," he said [1].
Canada's next World Cup match against Qatar, the 2022 tournament hosts, took place in Vancouver on June 18, continuing to galvanize interest and support for the national team and the sport [1, 2].