This Sask. soccer fan has been to every Canada game during the FIFA World Cup

A Saskatchewan soccer fan will have a seat in history as Canada reaches the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Wayne Mantyka has the story.

A Saskatchewan soccer fan who has been to every Canada game during FIFA so far is ecstatic as the team prepares for its first ever round of 16 matches on Saturday.

Regina resident Peter Ricci is headed to Houston where Canada will take on Morocco in the first of 16 matches, where he hopes to see another historic moment.

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“It’s kind of funny because this is a World Cup at home on our home continent but it’s the most travel that I’ve ever done,” he said.

Ricci flew to a pre-tournament game in Edmonton, two matches in Vancouver, games in Toronto, Los Angeles and now Houston.

“You can go from Toronto all the way down to Mexico City, like that’s how far apart the cities are, and along with Los Angeles, Vancouver, like it’s all over the place,” he said.

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As a member of Canada’s Voyageur soccer fan club, Ricci was eligible for a game ticket draw. He won the right to purchase $88 tickets to every match that Canada plays, right down to the final, should the team make it that far.

“I just want to see as many games as possible and I’m lucky that I get to see all of the Canadian games,” he said.

Ricci is starting to recognize others in the crowd who are doing the same thing.

“Lots of Voyageurs from Canada are going to every game,” he said. “A special shoutout to Lee Cormish out of Saskatoon who is going to 16 different games, not just every Canada game but 16 different games in 16 different cities.”

So far, Ricci has flown 25,000 kilometers and hopes he has a lot more flights ahead.