Good morning. The Canadian men’s soccer team will face its toughest challenge so far at the World Cup when it plays Morocco on Saturday. More on that below, along with EV range busters and extreme weather in parts of Canada. But first:
Today’s headlines
Open this photo in gallery:
Fans celebrate at the Vancouver fan festival after Stephen Eustaquio scores Canada’s winning goal against South Africa, June 28.Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters
Soccer
Canada’s groundbreaking World Cup
Hi, I’m Angela Pacienza, executive editor at The Globe and Mail.
Canadian sports fans will be focused on the big match tomorrow, when Canada, ranked 30th by FIFA, is up against 6th-placed Morocco. No doubt it will be our stiffest competition yet.
While our columnist Cathal Kelly isn’t betting on Canada to win, I am choosing to believe that anything is possible in this sport, and our players will rise to the occasion.
I learned this from my 15-year-old son, Alexander, who is a player himself and a mega-fan of all things soccer. (Note: While I would rather use football, I am sticking to “soccer” as per our Globe style guide.)
When I asked him if Canada has a chance on Saturday, he responded: “Obviously.” Just look at the small moments that got Canada here.
Open this photo in gallery:
Team Canada trains in Houston, July 2.RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images
Alexander is one of the tens of thousands of kids across Canada who has taken up the sport. He plays in a rep team in Toronto’s east end (Go Cherry Beach Falcons!). He is on the field four to five times a week for practices, games and conditioning training. On off days, he goes to the park to kick the ball around with friends. And when he’s not on the field, he’s on the couch playing FC26 on PlayStation or watching his beloved (and beleaguered) Chelsea team.
Suffice to say, soccer is a big part of my family’s life. With the World Cup in our backyard, I wasn’t going to squander the opportunity. I wanted Alexander to experience the colour and energy of soccer fans in matching jerseys marching and chanting in the streets, and the roar of a crowd rooting for your team. As a kid, I remember my dad driving us along College Street any time Italy won a game at the World Cup. (Sadly, Italy hasn’t qualified to play since 2014 – welp.)
While we managed to get to an actual game, we’ve also taken advantage of many of the free installations set up for the World Cup, including Canada Soccer House, FIFA Fan Fest and the Distillery Summer of Soccer in Toronto.
Open this photo in gallery:
Angela and Alexander at a World Cup game.Angela Pacienza
I love the sense of community and joyful synchronicity these gatherings provide. It’s a type of connection and fandom scientifically proven to bring joy, as our happiness reporter Erin Anderssen has written about.
For tomorrow’s big game against Morocco, we’ve got sports columnist Cathal Kelly and reporter Paul Attfield inside the Houston Stadium. But we don’t want to just capture what happens on the field. Visual journalist Jesse Winter will be there to hang with the Voyageurs, those fun-loving, Team Canada supporters (for men’s and women’s teams) that organize wonderfully spirited parades and marches ahead of the games.
We’ll also have reporters and editors working behind the scenes to bring live updates of the action on and off the field, so watch for our live blog tomorrow.
And if soccer is not your game, maybe you’d prefer it in crossword form?
Finally, in case you missed it yesterday, look for some changes coming to this newsletter Monday. I would love to hear what you think. You can reach me directly at apacienza@globeandmail.com.
Have a great weekend.
The Shot
‘There’s no doubt, we are pushing the limits’
Open this photo in gallery:
Greg Harris leans on his electric vehicle, an F-150 Lightning, in Canfield, Ont.Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and Mail
While some electric-vehicle owners worry about how far a single charge will take them, others are hauling Airstreams and boats for thousands of kilometres across the continent.
The Wrap
What else we’re following
Infrastructure: Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby have announced a multibillion-dollar major projects deal.
Economy: The federal government’s economic footprint is shrinking at the fastest year-over-year pace in 30 years.
Weather: Torrential rain, extreme heat and high winds have hit parts of the Prairies and Eastern Canada, prompting officials to cancel events. Meanwhile, firefighters are battling wildfires in France after its own heat wave.
Sportswear: Team Canada’s black “away” jerseys are selling out across the country as they become symbols of good luck.
Coming together: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding is slated to begin at 5 p.m. today at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Pulling apart: As the U.S. turns 250 years old, even the music gatherings are partisan, Brad Wheeler writes.