Ottawa soccer fans packed the Glebe Central Pub shoulder to shoulder to watch Canada play its first match of the FIFA World Cup against Bosnia and Herzegovina, united by a sport many say has a special way of bringing people together. “I feel like we really get the opportunity to show the rest of the world that as much as Canadians do call it soccer, we have football talent,” said fan Ali Nakassam. But World Cup fever isn’t limited to Ottawa pubs. In the city’s east end on Saddle Crescent, John Tracey has turned his quiet Ottawa street into a celebration of the game. Fresh off a trip to England, a place Tracey calls his second home, he returned with a replica FIFA World Cup trophy he found in Scotland after struggling to find one in Canada. For Tracey, it’s not just about the trophy. It’s about a lifelong love of the game. “You go there and it’s a religion,” he said. “People just stop working and they just live, eat, drink, breathe football.” That passion is now on full display outside his home, where flags from around the world line the street, hang from his house and surround a tournament bracket on his front lawn. With 48 countries participating, this is the biggest World Cup ever and Tracy says he’s making sure his neighbourhood feels part of it. His display is also catching the attention of younger fans and neighbours, including seven-year-old Beau. “It’s pretty amazing having all the flags up,” Beau said. “It’s my favourite sport. I’ve been playing since I was four.” For many fans, seeing Canada on the world stage is about more than one match. It’s about growing the game and inspiring the next generation. “To see it in their own backyard, their own country, it makes it feel real,” said Drew Beckie, Interim Head Coach of Atletico FC. “I hope it inspires a new generation.” As for fans looking to catch the game, Tracey says he is going to have a watch party in his driveway on July 19 for the finals, complete with a BBQ. He says the only thing he asks is people bring their own lawn chair. Canada earned its first-ever World Cup point after Friday’s match ended in a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
