Last Saturday was a very special day for soccer in the Fraser Valley, as we packed the Stadium at Langley Events Centre for Canada’s World Cup Round of 16 match on the big screen. That came just a few hours before Vancouver FC won our third home game in a row and moved into playoff position within the Canadian Premier League.
VIDEO: Vancouver FC shuts out Toronto
The field was packed and the stands were full too, with people from across the Lower Mainland coming to our home stadium to watch Canada’s match against Morocco.
The club has hosted these watch parties throughout the tournament, including every Canada match, and they have created a really special atmosphere.
But Saturday was extra special with huge numbers coming out.
It’s a really smart way to get people into the stadium and asking about who plays on the pitch. The guests are discovering who we are – their local professional team competing in Canada’s national league. Making those connections is such an important part of the future of Canadian soccer and it’s the actual legacy of this World Cup in Vancouver.
The watch parties are free, with food trucks, family activities and a booth pitchside – where some of our players stop by for autographs and mini-drills. My friends, family, and people in the community who I have spoken to have been having a great time at them.
The club told us they have been involved in more than 40 events during this World Cup window, across five different locations, which is awesome. The main ones, where players have been involved, are the PNE Fan Festival and The Last Mile, where there are mini-pitches where the club has set up.
It’s so important to us, as players, to be part of this World Cup and help promote soccer in our community.
We love being around the atmosphere and meeting both lifelong soccer fans and people who are completely new to the sport.
A lot of people ask about the league we play in, when our games are, whether we are professional and what it’s like to play in the CPL. It’s always fun talking to people about who we are and what Vancouver FC is building.
It’s similar to the school visits we do throughout the season, where players take turns visiting local schools, talking to the kids, and then heading outside to play some soccer with them.
It’s so important for children and families to know about the opportunities in the sport, to meet players, learn how they can support their local club and even see a pathway to becoming professional soccer players themselves – or to be involved in the sport in another way.
We scrimmage with the kids, pass the ball around and just have some fun with them.
Usually the players the club sends to the different events is based on where they live. For example, players living downtown [in Vancouver] are the ones who have been heading to the activations there.
The club also started taking part in the Cloverdale Agriplex Fan Festival this week, while the big-screen watch parties in Langley will continue for all the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.
It’s a shame, of course, that Canada is no longer involved. But, I think reaching the Round of 16 is a huge success for the program. Getting out of the group, winning a knockout game and reaching the last 16 is a massive achievement for Canadian soccer, and the team has gained a huge following from people who were watching, many of whom were not soccer fans before.
From the outside, I think people will start taking Canada much more seriously as a soccer nation, and that creates more opportunities for young players coming through and playing in our national league, the CPL.
I’m excited now to see more of the interest and excitement from the World Cup spill over into attendances at our games and more people tuning in to watch the league as the World Cup winds down and ends, and people are looking for the next thing to follow.
This week, we are back in action against CF Montreal in the Canadian Championship. We played the first leg at home last night (July 8) and travel to Quebec for the second leg on Sunday. Coming off a really good win against Inter Toronto in our last CPL match, which brings us up to fifth in the table, it’s another exciting challenge during what is a fantastic time for soccer in our country and our community.
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– Kian Proctor is a 20-year-old Vancouver FC defender from Delta, who signed his first professional contract for the 2026 season after a standout year at SFU. He will be writing a weekly column this season, offering insight into himself and his new team.
PHOTOS: Langley venue filled with thousands cheering on Canada
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