‘It was electric:’ Canadian fans react to first World Cup match in Qatar

Ahmed bin Ali Stadium was awash in red and white Wednesday with fans cheering for Canada in its first World Cup appearance in 36 years.

Canada faced off with Belgium — FIFA’s No. 2-ranked team — but lost 1-0 in a nailbiter.

Sheldon Mathies, a Saskatoon man who went to Qatar as a Canada fan delegate, says even though Canada lost, there was no denying that Canadian fans showed their unwavering support.

“It was all Canada. There (were) a few Belgium people around, (but) hardly anything,” he said about the number of Canadian fans at the game.

He said he was amazed to see so much support in Qatar for Canada.

Soccer super fan Sheldon Mathies shared this video of Canadian fans at Qatar World Cup @CKOMNews @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/bbqTcPQlJH

— Mia Michelle (@miaholoway) November 24, 2022

At the stadium, there was a specific section for Canada fan delegates, and Mathies said there was non-stop chanting, cheering and singing. He said he received a message from back home that said even on TV, Canadian fans’ voices were dominating.

“It was just electric,” Mathies said. “Belgium, they were just scared. They didn’t know what to do (because) Canada came off so strong.”

The Canadians carried the play in the country’s first World Cup match since 1986, but couldn’t pull off the upset.

Mathies said it was electrifying to know how many people were behind Canada.

“We didn’t sit back. We didn’t pretend that we didn’t belong here. We know that if Canada comes out and plays like that again, we are going to score and we are going to win,” Mathies said.

Lee Kormish, another Canada fan delegate, said that even the metro ride to the stadium had hundreds of Canadian fans showing their support.

“It was Canada’s turn. Wow, what a feeling to have the maple leaf flying at the World Cup,” he said.

It was the 69th World Cup match Kormish has seen, and he said it was an emotional experience when they sang the Canadian anthem.

A key point of the game was a missed penalty kick by Canada’s Alphonso Davies.

“That moment when it missed, we really felt like we were the better team still,” Kormish said.

That would’ve been Canada’s first goal in a World Cup game; the Canadians were shut out in their three games in 1986.

Kormish notes he has a good feeling about future games.

“To outplay and outshoot Belgium like that, it’s incredible,” Kormish said.

Canada still has a chance to advance out of the group stage. It’s set to play Croatia on Sunday at 10 a.m., and then faces Morocco on Dec. 1 at 9 a.m.