Canada’s Home World Cup Debut Fast Approaches

The wait is nearly over.

Whether a lifetime, merely four years, or even just last Friday’s sendoff match, the wait is finally over as Canada is set to kick off their first-ever home World Cup match on Friday against Bosnia and Herzegovina at a rechristened Toronto Stadium.

During the preparatory camp in Charlotte, North Carolina, calm was the keyword when the side was asked about the atmosphere in the group. But now, after clashes with Uzbekistan in Edmonton and Ireland in Montreal, it’s starting to feel very real.

“To be honest, I just want to get started, I just want the game to start,” said Ismaël Koné. “We’ve been practising and pushing and speaking about tactics, speaking about the opposite team, speaking about ourselves, speaking about the moments, speaking about the country, speaking about how we can get ready, speaking about stuff we need to do. Jesse has put us through all kind of challenges, so the moment is now, the work has been done.”

“I just can’t wait to get it started. I just want to get there on June 12th and get the game started early,” he added. “The guys are hungry. They’re ready for it. Everyone is prepared for this moment.”

A month ago Friday seemed a million years away, a week ago it was tangible but still distant, now, with the hours to kickoff rapidly ticking down, it’s something else.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” said Promise David. “It’s like we can’t wait for the five days. We wish we could just go to sleep, wake up, and it’s June 12th because we feel ready and prepared.”

“It’s like the first day of school, no, the first day of college – nobody wants to go back to school because summer vacation is over,” he mused. “But first day of college, university, you’re excited to get in there and hit the ground running.”

One could sense the anticipation mounting as the background changed from Charlotte to Edmonton and on to Montreal. Touchdown in Toronto, kickoff events, training sessions in front of large crowds of fans and the hoards of assembled media, saw it raised even higher.

“You see it,” offered Liam Millar. “Last night, at the event [at Canada Soccer House], we’re all there, you see the support from everybody, how close it’s getting and how everyone’s feeling. It’s a surreal moment. We’re all looking forward to that first game on Friday.”

Maxime Crépeau agreed: “It surely feels real now, we’re right there, in the build up to it. Look at this right now today, it’s amazing. The team is excited, we are all living the dream right now of having the World Cup.”

“Stepping onto the field we transform that into business and pure joy to represent the country. The team is happy at the moment and we’re going to focus on the white lines, what happens inside them.”

That first game on Friday is only a beginning after all.

“Excited, but at the same point we have a goal at hand, we don’t want to get carried away with the emotions of the stage, with it being the first World Cup on home soil,” reminded Cornelius. “We’re very focused. We know that we have goals that we need to achieve. The team is aware of the opportunity that we have and we’re ready to take it with both hands.”

Some members of the squad have experienced it before. For others it will be the first time at the World Cup, but none have done so at home.

“Playing a World Cup on home soil, every kid’s dream,” remarked Tajon Buchanan. “We’ve just got to go, be prepared, work hard, and get to the next game.”

Those that have are trying to impart their wisdom, as best they can.

“With the young guys, you try and talk them through it, but it’s one of those it’s really difficult to experience until you’re out there,” admitted Alistair Johnston. “It’s good seeing this already in the week leading in, the fans, the excitement, the guys can already tell that this is a little bit different – police escorts to get to this training facility – they’re getting a real taste of what this is going to be like.”

“It’s a good reminder that let’s not waste those first 10, 15 minutes,” he urged. “It’s really difficult, you’re playing at such a high level in a big game, to not look around the crowd and absorb it, but it’s one of those ‘Can you just get after it right from the first whistle?’ Jesse’s football really tends to help with that, you’re so focused on being the aggressor that you don’t get too hung up on what’s going on outside of that.”

Those set to make their debuts are wrapping their minds around that reality.

“I think I have,” said Luc de Fougerolles of the possibility of starting a World Cup match. “It’s obviously something I’ve dreamed of – it’s been my dream for the last eight years or so to get to this point – and now we’re so close.”

“I’m ready to go, I’m excited for what’s to come,” he added. “And, yeah, I just can’t wait to get started.”

One of the curveballs of playing at home is that everything seems so familiar. Qatar was half a world away, but being in Toronto or Vancouver, training and playing on familiar pitches in familiar environs can delay the moment when reality comes into view.

Can something so familiar really be different?

“No, not for me,” replied Jayden Nelson when asked if this felt like the World Cup yet at the training facility where he spent his youth. “But when we get on the pitch against Bosnia, it’s going to hit a lot of us.”

For creatures of routine, the same can become so very, very different in the blink of an eye. It is the little differences that leap out.

“It’s a big moment for our country, especially for us as the players and staff within the group,” explained Richie Laryea. “Going through the regular things that I do on a daily basis, but match day minus-one, match day especially, is going to feel a lot different. Even the way we travelled to training today, from downtown here in 25 minutes, which never happens.”

After Canada’s draw with Ireland last Friday, Koné was asked if the team was ready. His response?

“What do you think?”