Some fans who turned up at FIFA Fan Fest in downtown Toronto on Saturday were left frustrated and confused upon learning that the match between the Netherlands and Sweden would not be shown on the giant screens located throughout the venue.
The match was the first of the day, being played in Houston, Texas, at noon ET, but according to the Toronto FIFA Fan Fest website, it was not scheduled to be shown.
“We come in, and then we find out they’re only showing certain games at FIFA fan zone, which makes no sense,” said one fan who travelled to Toronto to take in the World Cup festivities. “I’ve been to Mexico, I’ve been to Dallas, and all their fan zones appeared to show every game, so why would the FIFA fan zone (in Toronto) not show their own games? It doesn’t make any sense at all.”
“The Swedish and the Dutch fans, they’ve come to watch their game, which is on right now, and it’s not shown in here,” said another fan zone attendee. “And they’re stuck now because once you’ve entered the fan zone, you can leave, but then you can’t get back in again later.”
CityNews reached out to the City of Toronto to ask why the Netherlands-Sweden match wasn’t airing, and a few minutes after we sent our request, the game was available on the big screens throughout the fan zone. Officials say the games that are scheduled to air at the fan zone are available on their website. A quick check showed the Netherlands-Sweden game was not initially part of that schedule on Saturday, but was added afterwards.
Meanwhile, thousands of cheerful soccer fans filled the stadium to watch the matchup between Germany and Ivory Coast in the third game hosted by Toronto.
Supporters of the four-time FIFA World Cup winner waved Germany’s flags on one side of BMO Field, while Ivorians wearing orange jerseys danced and cheered on the other side of the stadium. Long lines formed outside the gates ahead of the historic game.
Aurelie Kpakpo, a Toronto resident, said she came to the stadium to support Ivory Coast.
“Everything is amazing, there is so much fun going on in the city and it is just the best,” she said, wearing an Ivorian jersey with an Ivory Coast flag draped on her shoulder.
Kpakpo was joined by her mother and brother who came from France for the World Cup.
“Today, we’re here to win, and this is the best feeling ever, and I am so excited that the game is here in Toronto,” a jubilant Kpakpo said.
German fan Anna Kotman, who came from Germany for the World Cup, said it felt “awesome” to be at the stadium.
“Toronto is a great city, weather is great, people are great,” she said in an interview outside BMO Field, putting on Germany’s white jersey.
“I am very excited to see Germany playing here in a big city, great stadium and, yeah, let’s hope for a win.”
Before the game, Toronto’s waterfront was a sea of black, red and yellow as rapturous German fans marched toward the stadium ahead of the tilt.
Flags bobbed atop a roaring sea of fans who chanted in unison to the team’s high-energy anthem, “Super Deutschland olé!”.
Anja Duess wore a flower crown of Germany’s colours and a beaming smile as she prepared to set out on the march.
A German transplant who has lived in Toronto for more than 20 years, Duess said Saturday’s atmosphere was unlike anything she’d seen before.
“It’s just such an amazing experience. Soccer has really ignited some new passion in Toronto, and in Canada overall,” said Duess, who was set to take in the match from the fan festival.
Sun and mostly clear skies shone on an estimated 5,000 people who took part in the festive march, police estimated.
A pair of fans from Cologne, Germany, carrying a replica World Cup trophy praised the Toronto hospitality and appeared only mildly let down by the interdiction against drinking on the street.
“The atmosphere is very good but it’s too less beer,” said Alex Manek with a grin.
Dozens of Ivory Coast fans waited outside their favourite team’s hotel in Toronto’s downtown core before players boarded a bus to go to the stadium.
Pierre Amani, who flew from Ivory Coast to watch the game in Toronto and then in Philadelphia, said he is thrilled to support his team.
“I think it is going to be a historic day because I know we are going to win against Germany…it is going to be a tough game today,” he said.
The Ivorians opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Ecuador, while Germany routed Curaçao 7-1 in its first match.
Ivory Coast players arrived in Toronto with striker Elye Wahi after the 23-year-old was cleared to enter Canada, a boost for the team.
There had been uncertainty over his availability for today’s match because he is under investigation in France for alleged betting-related offences.
Files from Alessandra Carniero were used in this report