Saskatchewan soccer superfans travel to Qatar for World Cup

Canadian fans have been gearing up to watch the FIFA World Cup on television, but Saskatchewan soccer superfans Sheldon Mathies and Lee Kormish will see the action live in Qatar as Canada fan delegates.

For the 2022 World Cup, the Qatar Supreme Committee created a new fan engagement program — the first of its kind. It sponsors 50 candidates from participating countries to cheer on their team as superfans.

“Our job is to go out there and be a great Canada fan,” Mathies said about the bucket-list experience.

The Supreme Committee worked with different fan leaders from each country to search for experienced World Cup fans across the globe.

Kormish, one of the 450 fan leaders chosen, says he has attended four World Cups and 62 matches, and has travelled world-wide to support Canada.

Mathies was nominated by Kormish because of his dedication to the game of soccer throughout the years.

Those who were nominated filled out an application. Mathies said he highlighted his past soccer experience, and what being a Canadian soccer fan means to him.

Mathies has played soccer for as long as he can remember. He is currently the president of the Saskatoon Adult Soccer League, and he has been running a men’s team for 22 years through the organization.

He has also devoted his time to coaching through the Eastside Youth Soccer Association and Lakewood Soccer.

“I love being able to give back to soccer, I love playing it, and now I get to represent Canada on the world stage as a fan,” Mathies said.

Mathies said when he received the email saying he had been selected, it was a dream come true.

“To be able to go to the World Cup in a beautiful climate, it’s an unreal experience,” he said.

This is the first time the Canadian soccer team has been in the tournament since 1986.

“It’s been a lot of dark times, and a lot of bad teams, and some awful qualifications,” Kormish said in reference to the team’s 36-year dry spell.

The superfan said head coach John Herdman and some talented players have been able to turn it around.

“We are (now) with the best in the world and that’s phenomenal,” Kormish said.

It’s also the first time all eight World Cup stadiums are in close proximity, meaning travelling between games is only a metro ride away. Mathies said that alone makes it a surreal experience.

Flights and accommodations are sponsored by the Qatar Supreme Committee.

On Sunday, fan delegates were brought to the opening ceremony of the first match. There is also a designated section for fans to be featured while they cheer on their team.

The two aren’t the only Saskatoon superfans to experience this rare opportunity. Mathies said there are approximately 20 locals who are along for the ride.

“This is a bucket list checked off a hundred times. I never thought something like this could ever happen,” Mathies said before taking off to Qatar; he’s to return on Dec 6.

Canada’s first match is set for Wednesday against Belgium at 1 p.m. Kormish says it will be a “mouthwatering way to start.”