Big World Cup win raises odds of Team Canada knockout matches in Vancouver

Before Wednesday’s Canada-Switzerland game, Vancouver hosts a group-stage match on Sunday between Egypt, featuring superstar Mohamed Salah, and New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he’s hoarse from cheering on Canada in their 6-0 rout of Qatar on Thursday and he’s among those hoping for more home-team matches in Vancouver.

“We were hoping for a win and the team delivered beyond what any of us expected and of course now we just expect and want more,” he said at an unrelated news conference on Friday.

“And so, we’re really gonna be cheering super loud against Switzerland (and) wanting more games in Vancouver with Team Canada.”

He said the atmosphere in Vancouver was electric, and the province wants more.

Vancouver police said there were large crowds “all over the city” after the match.

They said four people on the Granville entertainment strip were taken to jail for public intoxication and six for breaching the peace on Thursday night, while six people were “ejected” from BC Place, three of them for intoxication.

“Overall, with the amount of people around Vancouver, police found the crowds peaceful and celebratory,” the department said in a statement on Friday.

Transit operator TransLink said ridership on its system was the highest on Thursday since early 2020.

It said there were more than 1.36 million boardings, an 18 per cent increase compared with a typical Thursday.

Boardings at the Bridgeport Canada Line Station were up more than 37 per cent from normal, the highest across the system.

Fans have been encouraged to take transit to games, since major roads around the stadium are shut.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Big World Cup win raises odds of Team Canada knockout matches in Vancouver

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