Ice District celebrates Canada’s FIFA World Cup success

Edmonton's downtown core hosted a FIFA World Cup watch party for Canada Day. The event was part of an initiative spreading Canadian Fifa World Cup pride.

Ice District’s Fan Park traded hockey for soccer watch parties this summer, and Canada’s FIFA World Cup involvement – and success – is giving fans all the more reason to cheer.

“It’s more than exciting. It’s historic,” former Canada men’s national soccer player Tosaint Ricketts said on Wednesday. “We’re talking about a once in a lifetime opportunity to be hosting the World Cup here on Canadian soil, for our men to be doing so well … It’s paving a new generation for players.”

The downtown core hosted yet another watch party day, this time specially curated for Canada Day and hosted by Canada Celebrates, a cross-country initiative that will visit each province and one territory to spread Canadian FIFA World Cup pride.

“Since we bid for this tournament back in 2016, we always focused on uniting the country and making sure all Canadians could be part of the FIFA World Cup, and really Canada Celebrates is our way of delivering that,” said executive director of commercial operations Sandra Gage.

“The sport has developed over the years, and really, FIFA events have come to this country and really raised the awareness levels for the sport in Canada.”

Ricketts, who retired two years ago, says being one of the initiative’s guest speakers is a full-circle moment for him.

“I put in over a decade of work into this national team, into this program. I think of all of the sacrifices that I did – not only me,” he said.

“I see the foundation of this program growing … Expect future players to be born from this World Cup.”

Canada’s next knockout match is against Morocco on Saturday.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum