Soccer fans packed the gym at the Pitt Meadows Recreation Centre on Wednesday to cheer on the Canadian team as they took on Switzerland at World Cup soccer.
What started off slow, the watch party hosted by the City of Pitt Meadows, swelled from about 60 people at the start of the game to more than 150 people by the first hydration break.
Canada would fall to the Swiss team 2-1 in the second half of the game, but there was a lot of optimism for Canada in the first half.
Pitt Meadows resident Judy Johnson said she was very excited to see Canada win the game and was excited about how many people showed up at the watch party to support the team.
“Canada is doing good, giving me more hope every time. Good shots on goal,” she said about 25 minutes into the game. .
Johnson said she was enjoying the atmosphere at the event.
“To feel all of the Canadians here together, all of us excited,” she said.
“Having the kids here is very nice, you know, the new generation,” she
She was hoping for a 1-0 outcome in favour of Canada.
Nancy Berdej was there with her husband Leo.
“It’s much more fun to celebrate with other people,” she said, noting they were planning on hitting the food trucks at halftime.
Leo said, even though he was rooting for Canada, the game, he acknowledged, would be challenging to win and could go either way.
He said the Pitt Meadows event was very well organized, with food trucks, and plenty of activities.
He was predicting Canada winning 3-2.
Francesco Rosati was at the event with his four-year-old daughter Rosalie.
He said all Canada needed today was one point to win their group and then they have an opportunity to make it to the knockout stage.
“Continuing to make history,” he said.
He predicted 2-1 for Canada.
Switzerland, he said, is a pretty good team with a good goaltender and a pretty experienced squad, who have made it to the World Cup quite often.
“I think it will be a tough match up but I think Jesse Marsch and the boys can do it,” he said referring to the head coach of the Canadian team.
With the loss to Switzerland, Canada placed second in Group B, but will still advance to the knockout stage at the FIFA World Cup for the first time ever.