Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. With the game growing in Canada and the recent successes of the national team, we asked four people who they’re supporting and why.

Saïd (Morocco)

Saïd is Assistant Manager of Learning at the Museum. He arrived in Canada three years ago.

“I'm supporting Canada for sure, 100%. The Canadian soccer team is playing good football lately. Since they participated in the Qatar World Cup, it was amazing to see them evolve. Those are young players. I can easily identify myself to this team, because most of them have African roots. And they were playing this enthusiast soccer as if it is a matter of death or life. One of the teams that they faced was Morocco, my original home team. Morocco beat them. Because this was also a matter of experience—some of the players were [there for] their 2nd or 3rd time. And Morocco went to the semifinal.

“The fever around football here in Canada is not like in other countries. In Morocco, it's like a secondary religion. The whole weekend all the cafes are full, and everybody is watching game after game after game after game.

“I feel Canadian in my heart. I'm rooting for them, rooting for Morocco, I’m rooting for Brazil, and Spain as well. With maturity, you root for your home team, but you also support good football, good sportsmanship. And football is not only about who is winning, it’s also how those players give all they have to their country.”

Nathaline (Mother from Colombia)

Nathaline is the Social Media and Communications Coordinator at the Museum. She was born in Toronto.

“Colombia. Canada likely is my 2nd team.

“We would get together to watch the Colombia matches. Every time the World Cup would came around, that's when we got excited. There's a game? Barbeque. It's time to watch the match? Everyone was locked in as soon as it got on TV. That's some of my favourite childhood memories. To get together.

“The more teams you root for, the more chances you have. One of my uncles is Chilean. And we would always watch the Chile games. And one of my other uncles was from Uruguay. So, we would start cheering for them as well, finding ways to gather and celebrate other countries that are in your networks, in your families, to keep the party going, find opportunities to keep getting together.”

John (England)

John is the Museum’s Human Resource Manager. He and his wife have been in Canada 25 years.

“I would never wear an England shirt. Never, ever. I might wear a Canada shirt if I had one.

“I'm from the northwest of England, Liverpool way. Lots of people from Liverpool don't typically see themselves as English. They’re Scouse.

“If England played Canada in the World Cup in the summer, I probably would fall towards Canada because of that love-hate relationship because of the whole Margaret Thatcher—and there's a long history. Liverpool, typically, is a very sort of left-wing socialist city. Of course, Margaret Thatcher was the opposite. When Thatcher died, there were parties in Liverpool. That's how strong the feeling was. Street parties. Very bizarre.

“If it was a World Cup final, we were playing Canada? I would probably be more on the side of Canada. It's never going to happen, either way. Neither team are going to get to the final.”

Alejandro (Argentina)

Alejandro is a teacher in Halifax and has been in Canada for 25 years

Alejandro is a teacher in Halifax and has been in Canada for 25 years

“I would always root for Argentina. As an immigrant, you have this new experience where, oh, wait a second, there are two countries I belong to, one where I just happened to be born and one where I'm currently living. I'm close to being 50% [of my life] in Canada. If Argentina plays Canada, I would cheer for Argentina, that's my 1st reaction. If Argentina is out of the [tournament], I have no doubt to make Canada my second team.

“In Argentina, [soccer] is like hockey is for Canadians. It's more than just a sport. It's probably in every aspect more similar to religion. Argentinians are very, very passionate about soccer.

“When we watch the game, we have probably 20-30 people. Every square centimetre is occupied by a chair, a person or a cushion on the floor. Our kids will often invite friends. They want their friends to participate in this social event.

“[In the unlikely event Canada beats Argentina,] I would feel sad. But I would use the silver lining: it would feel much worse to lose against Brazil.”

The beautiful game

Soccer, often known as the beautiful game, can bring people together, connect newcomers to their country of origin, and deepen ties to a new home.

Will this year’s World Cup see more people proudly wearing the red and white? Will Canada advance into the elimination series? Will it pull off a shocking upset against a soccer superpower?

The coming weeks will tell.

For more stories of how sports connect people and build community, check out season 7 of the Museum’s podcast, Countless Journeys.