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TORONTO (AP) \u2014 Luke Rees never played hockey growing up in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga. Instead, he played soccer like many Canadians who are now adults.<\/p>\n
The sport is so popular that it surpasses hockey and all other sports in youth participation, according to a recent report from Jumpstart, a Canadian charity that helps low-income youth participate in organized sports. It stated that half of the country’s youth participate in organized soccer.<\/p>\n
Rees was one of many local residents donning Canadian soccer gear Thursday ahead of their home country’s game. world cup<\/span> Friday’s opening game is against Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n“I wish I had tickets for tomorrow’s game, but I don’t have them,” Reese said. “I’m going to the game in Vancouver. It was cheaper to buy tickets locally.”<\/p>\n
teeth Canada<\/span> Want to have a soccer moment?<\/p>\nWomen’s Northern Super League Chairman Christina Linz said: “We’re already pretty well established in this country in terms of participation numbers and I think everyone is looking forward to seeing that momentum build even further. Tournaments like this inspire so many of the next generation to find their heroes and get out to play.” \u201cI think[it]really brings out the emotional connection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thursday in Toronto was like the day to put on your favorite soccer jersey as the tournament started in Mexico. Canadian red tops like the one Reese wore were the most popular.<\/p>\n
The World Cup’s other co-hosts, Mexico (No. 13) and the United States (No. 17), are each ranked higher than Canada at No. 30 in the FIFA rankings, meaning there’s more for the Canadians to gain. Especially when it comes to creating a passion for sports.<\/p>\n
“I felt real momentum behind this team and behind this moment,” Canadian coach Jesse Marsh said Thursday as Canada Soccer’s national governing body looks to make the most of hosting its first World Cup.<\/p>\n
“Canada is becoming more and more multicultural. I think it’s exciting to have so many different countries coming together here in North America and Canada and playing with some of the greatest players and greatest coaches in the world. I think there’s real excitement behind what this is going to look like,” Marsh said.<\/p>\n
What could be holding back Marsh’s team’s potential is the absence of star defender Alphonso Davies. Davies suffered a hamstring injury in Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 6, and was ruled out of Friday’s game as he continues to nurse the injury.<\/p>\n
Manager Marsh expects Davis to be able to return at some point in the group stage. He said Davis underwent an MRI scan on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“We’re preparing to step things up even more,” Marsh said Thursday.<\/p>\n
Davis is one of many Canadian players battling injuries. Defender Moises Bonvito is recovering from a broken foot, but Marsh said Bonvito was “ready to contribute”.<\/p>\n
Regardless of who takes the field for Canada, Canada is ready to make a statement and its players are eager to prove they are a soccer nation.<\/p>\n
“All of the boys are incredibly Canadian and take pride in representing their country, wearing the jersey and hearing the national anthem,” Marsh said. “They sing the national anthem and they sing it at the top of their lungs because they want to show the country how proud they are to be here, to be Canadian, and to represent Canada.”<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Lexi Linderman is a student at Penn State’s John Curley Center for Sports Journalism.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP World Cup coverage: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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