The ball is rolling

It’s still a few months off, but a spectacle like the world cup of soccer creates a lot of early waves.  Lately Canadians found out who Canada’s opponents will be standing between them and the next round.  So far, we know that Switzerland and Qatar will be joining Canada; the third opponent will be the winner of a playoff round between Italy, Northern Ireland, Bosnia &Herzegovina, and Wales.  All of these teams will be a welcome fourth, for the fans, but I’m pretty sure that for Toronto in particular, there are a lot of the Azzuri that simply won’t believe that Italy won’t be in Toronto playing Canada on June 12.  

No doubt that both Toronto and Vancouver are hustling to get stadiums ready, and logistics prepped.  There can be no doubt that Canadian organizers will get everything up and running on schedule; it’s too big a deal to leave anything up to chance.   

 It will be a great series of games, even if but a few, and early in the competition.   Canada won’t have an easy time of it.  Whoever comes out of the playoff will be a formidable opponent, and Switzerland has proven to be a tough side over the last few years.  If Canada hopes to move forward in the competition, they will have play every match like a final.  

On July 2nd, Toronto will also host a runner up game from group K and group L, which include Portugal and England, so there’s a possibility that some popular heavy hitters might make it to Hog town!  If I believe that there won’t be any major issues with the Canadian part of the world cup, I’m not feeling the same way for south of the border.  Trump wants to make it his show, but he also has many Draconian measures in place.  Although, apparently, there’s an agreement that if you have tickets, there shouldn’t be any issue at the American border.  I’m guessing they won’t be rifling through people’s smartphones, looking for negative vibes toward the current administration, because that can create some line-ups.  

Things are just too out-of-control for there not to be any issues with fans and the games, especially when it comes to foreign fans.  Let’s hope not, because it could sour the Trump-Infantino bromance, and they look so happy together, especially the president of FIFA, who fawns over Trump like he has some sinister master plan, or Trump has something on him.  Either way, Infantino seems to be another puppet in the American president’s collection.

  It will probably go well enough, after all, there’s much money to be made and Trump and Co. are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to collect.  

What will carry the World Cup are the performances, good and bad, the surprises and the disappointment, along with the passion and the joy.  It’s many emotions rolled into 104 games, that’s another new one.  

Never have there been so many teams and so many games in the World cup, but I don’t think anyone will be bored.

Fiquem bem,

Raul Freitas/MS