Crawford traveled to Mexico that year to watch the team, which lost all of the group stage matches and did not even score a goal. But the respective Canadians played hard and appreciated the effort.
“It was just amazing to be on the pitch, to watch our boys play with the best in the world and do a great job,” said the Toronto resident and a member of the Voyageurs National Football Club.
After 36 years of failure and frustration, the Canadian men’s team is finally on the verge of facing the best again. Although the Canadians lost to Costa Rica on Thursday in their 18th qualifying match for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Crawford and other football fans are looking forward to their match against Jamaica at the BMO Field Sunday in Toronto.
A win or a draw against one of the weakest teams in the draw will win Canada a ticket to the big event.
Jim Crawford, pictured here in a white sweater, cheering Canada on at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. He says he would love to go to Qatar in 2022. The Canadian men’s soccer team is on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup finals after a 36-year drought. (Submitted by Jim Crawford)
“It’s almost like qualifying at home, or with the stars we qualify for,” said Crawford, who says he also coached the North Toronto Soccer League.
He has been watching for decades as Canada’s national men’s teams have not succeeded and are faltering in World Cup qualifiers. But this time, Canada has climbed to first place in the qualifying round for the North, Central American and Caribbean Football Federation (CONCACAF).
“We have had our ups and downs, but we are definitely at a high level today,” Crawford said.
Local bar ready for large crowds
Bars across the country, and especially in the greater Toronto area, are preparing for huge crowds of soccer fans on Sunday night.
At the Onyxx Sports Bar & Grill in Brampton, director Jaineil Hoilett says they are withdrawing all stages for the Canada-Jamaica match.
“We have a big screen, plus 22 other screens for our guests to watch the game live, along with a DJ also at halftime,” said Hoilett, who says he played football for Humber College during his tenure at abroad.
“We have some appetizers in specialties and we try to have a good time with our guests.”
He says they expect “nothing less than a full house” because Brampton is home to many members of Canada’s national team, as well as a large Jamaican community.
The Canadian men’s soccer team soon arrived in Costa Rica on Thursday, but they are still confident of a place in the World Cup. (Ezequiel Becerra / AFP via Getty Images)
Ron Smale, general manager of the Toronto Azzurri Soccer Club, says people who have watched the men’s national team play on the world stage in recent months may have helped boost enrollment numbers and rekindle interest in the sport.
“I think with the media and the number of games being televised, that really helped.”
Smale says the club has 400 to 500 new players enrolled in its leisure and sports programs each summer and interest is growing now that people are heading out and pandemic restrictions are easing.
“We are very confident that our national team will qualify … and that will create a lot of noise when the 2022 World Cup starts.”
title: “Soccer Fans Get Ready To Celebrate. Canada Could Clinch A World Cup Berth At Home Sunday " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-05” author: “Jessie Leedy”
Crawford traveled to Mexico that year to watch the team, which lost all of the group stage matches and did not even score a goal. But the respective Canadians played hard and appreciated the effort.
“It was just amazing to be on the pitch, to watch our boys play with the best in the world and do a great job,” said the Toronto resident and a member of the Voyageurs National Football Club.
After 36 years of failure and frustration, the Canadian men’s team is finally on the verge of facing the best again. Although the Canadians lost to Costa Rica on Thursday in their 18th qualifying match for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Crawford and other football fans are looking forward to their match against Jamaica at the BMO Field Sunday in Toronto.
A win or a draw against one of the weakest teams in the draw will win Canada a ticket to the big event.
Jim Crawford, pictured here in a white sweater, cheering Canada on at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. He says he would love to go to Qatar in 2022. The Canadian men’s soccer team is on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup finals after a 36-year drought. (Submitted by Jim Crawford)
“It’s almost like qualifying at home, or with the stars we qualify for,” said Crawford, who says he also coached the North Toronto Soccer League.
He has been watching for decades as Canada’s national men’s teams have not succeeded and are faltering in World Cup qualifiers. But this time, Canada has climbed to first place in the qualifying round for the North, Central American and Caribbean Football Federation (CONCACAF).
“We have had our ups and downs, but we are definitely at a high level today,” Crawford said.
Local bar ready for large crowds
Bars across the country, and especially in the greater Toronto area, are preparing for huge crowds of soccer fans on Sunday night.
At the Onyxx Sports Bar & Grill in Brampton, director Jaineil Hoilett says they are withdrawing all stages for the Canada-Jamaica match.
“We have a big screen, plus 22 other screens for our guests to watch the game live, along with a DJ also at halftime,” said Hoilett, who says he played football for Humber College during his tenure at abroad.
“We have some appetizers in specialties and we try to have a good time with our guests.”
He says they expect “nothing less than a full house” because Brampton is home to many members of Canada’s national team, as well as a large Jamaican community.
The Canadian men’s soccer team soon arrived in Costa Rica on Thursday, but they are still confident of a place in the World Cup. (Ezequiel Becerra / AFP via Getty Images)
Ron Smale, general manager of the Toronto Azzurri Soccer Club, says people who have watched the men’s national team play on the world stage in recent months may have helped boost enrollment numbers and rekindle interest in the sport.
“I think with the media and the number of games being televised, that really helped.”
Smale says the club has 400 to 500 new players enrolled in its leisure and sports programs each summer and interest is growing now that people are heading out and pandemic restrictions are easing.
“We are very confident that our national team will qualify … and that will create a lot of noise when the 2022 World Cup starts.”
The game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET.
