Cheering two flags at once

Foley notes that Team Canada’s success has attracted both new fans and those who closely follow soccer from other countries.

“Canada is a very multicultural country,” he said. “We have fans from all over the world.”

Foley is one of them. He is half Dutch and cheers for the Netherlands with his mother every time they play. He says that double loyalty is the norm at The Dudley, where fans of England, Mexico and Croatia all watch matches together.

For many fans at the bar, the cultural mosaic is not only a national concept but also a personal experience.

“I definitely notice it. There are many people from different countries in Canada,” said one fan. “Events like the World Cup bring people together. You can be from different countries and still love Canada as your home.”

The same fan, who identifies as mixed-race, says they follow several teams at each tournament.

“I am mixed race, so I support several countries. Canada is always among them.

They say it changes how Canadian kids see the sport.

“Growing up, I always dreamed of seeing Canada play,” they said. “Now, seeing them succeed on the world stage is incredible.”

They also pointed out that Canada is competing closely with stronger teams, including a close match against Switzerland, in which possession was nearly equal. We don’t see Canada in this position as often.”

Soccer remains less popular than hockey in much of the country, including northern B.C. Fans at The Dudley were surprised by the large turnout on a weekday afternoon. They said the atmosphere is similar to a hockey playoff run, but with more flags.

For now, fans in Prince George say they will keep showing up wearing red, waving a second flag, and cheering loudly either way.

by Dave Branco

Cheering two flags at once

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