‘Swept up in a fever’: World Cup jerseys flying off Calgary shelves as Canada shines

Calgarian gathered in the Eau Claire neighbourhood on Wednesday to watch Team Canada face off against Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup.

As Canada’s men’s soccer squad makes history at the World Cup on the pitch, fans are scooping up jerseys and merchandise at a frenzied pace.

“(It’s) swept up in a fever is exactly it. It’s really popped off here, more than I’ve ever experienced,” said Matt Whitehead, the owner of World of Soccer in southeast Calgary.

The shop has seen a surge in business, Whitehead explained, with customers coming in for everything from the flashy pink football boots debuted at the tournament to jerseys of their home country.

They’re barely able to keep Canada’s jerseys in stock.

“It’s selling off the shelf. The whole country is pretty much sold out of the home jersey,” Whitehead said.

“Fans are picking their favourite players and getting (names) added to jerseys. It’s just an absolute buzz.”

Fans buzzing for second Team Canada FIFA appearance

Thousands of Calgary soccer fans also joined the chorus of Canadians cheering on the nation’s team at a jam-packed viewing party in the Eau Claire neighbourhood on Wednesday afternoon.

Calgary Minor Soccer says enrolment numbers are already growing by about 10 per cent each year in the city and the World Cup is expected to provide an even bigger boost.

“It’s a historic moment for the game. We’ve got the World Cup taking place in our own backyard,” said Leslie Macleod, the marketing manager with the soccer group.

“We’re continuously seeing year over year growth in the sport and so we’re really looking forward to what that World Cup effect looks like at the grassroots level,” she said.

Canada will move on from the group stage for the first time in its history at the men’s World Cup. They will play in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.