No place like home for World Cup
Match in Edmonton gave 2015 women's national team member Schmidt chills
Very few people on this planet ever get to play a World Cup game on home soil, so take it from somebody who’s been there: the experience is everything she dreamed it would be.
Sophie Schmidt got to live that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity three years ago when Canada hosted the 2015 Women’s World Cup, so when news broke Wednesday that Canada will co-host the men’s 2026 World Cup with the United States and Mexico, all those memories came flooding back.
“It’s an amazing thing to wake up to,” said Schmidt, who was in Edmonton on Wednesday for the announcement. “I can’t stop smiling. One of the biggest sporting events in the world is coming to Canada. Watching a World Cup is what made me fall in love with the game. Now it’s coming here to our front door.”
Schmidt says walking into Commonwealth Stadium for the tournament opener in 2015 and seeing 53,058 flag-waving fans waiting for Team Canada was almost surreal. It gave her chills.
“The stadium always turns electric when we come there, but for the World Cup, the buzz around the whole tournament was amazing,” she said. “Just the excitement of people in the street, in the media, it was everywhere. It was pretty special to be able to live that.
“Our first match in Edmonton was just incredible. The fans who came out and the noise that they made, to see the sea of red and hear them cheering for you is a special moment that takes your breath away as a player. You have so much pride for your country.”
There is no guarantee yet that Edmonton will host any games, but the city has long been known as one of Canada’s most enthusiastic soccer hosts. It’s a well-earned reputation that dates back to the Under-19 Women’s World Championship in 2002.
“The U19s was the first time I saw women’s soccer on TV and the way that fans showed up at the stadium was awesome,” said Schmidt, who was 14 at the time. “And because of that tournament, the players from that team made up a huge chunk of the women’s national team for a long time. People still talk about those players and that tournament and that team to this day.”
The announcement that Canada would host the 2015 Women’s World Cup came several years earlier and lit a fire under the national team. The players knew they would be stepping on the sport’s grandest stage, at home, and dialed up their intensity accordingly.
“I was still a young pup on the national team trying to make my way,” she said. “It was so exciting. It just made you want to work that much harder. It kind of brought a different element to the program and being part of the national team and playing for your country.
“When you had to make sacrifices or miss out on family things, you understood because the World Cup was coming to Canada, you had to be the best you could be.
“It also made it exciting for family and friends who live this world with me to see it come alive and get to be a part of it, see everything first-hand. It was very special to have a home World Cup.”
The impact of that tournament is still being felt. The women’s team, being a global power, was already a major inspiration to young Canadian girls, but hosting the World Cup took it to another level.
“There is a lot of quality in our youth team. Before 2015 there was one age group that came through the national team and made up the core. Now we’re starting to see more talented young players come through the program. I think that’s a direct result of a home World Cup and the success of the women’s team.”
Schmidt expects it will happen again, on an even bigger scale, leading up to and following 2026.
“Especially on the men’s side, this will ignite dreams and ambitions. Just being able to see it real and in front of you provides a completely different element in people’s thirst for the game.”
Of course, what made 2015 so compelling is the Canadians were legitimate contenders (losing 2-1 to third place England in the quarter-finals). That won’t be the case with the men, who are ranked 80th in the world (the women are fourth).
But Schmidt doubts that will dampen enthusiasm.
“I don’t think it will play into it. It’s the World Cup. I think Canadians will just embrace this team. Even if they ’re not successful we’ll cheer them ’til the very last second and try to uplift them.
“I think because of this tournament you will see the men’s program grow and take tremendous strides. With (former women’s coach) John Herdman at the helm and some quality players coming up, there is no bigger and better opportunity than now.”