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My FIFA World Cup Diary-1
When BMO Stadium, with an exceptional blue block, turned all red on June 12.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Sun, 14, Jun 2026
- 23:58 EDT
- 49
Canadian players celebrating after scoring the equalizer / FIfa
“Red” does not necessarily notify or stand for “left”. It at times also stands for the extreme right, the capitalist Canada, as was witnessed during the opening game of Group B between one of three co-hosts, Canada, and Bosnia Herzegovina, on June 12.
“Red” is normally identified with the erstwhile East block that was once headed by the Soviet Union. After its disintegration, most of its member nations quickly veered away from the “Left” or “communism” and settled for either the “capitalist” West or chose the neutral path in between.
Incidentally, Russia, after hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup in 2018, has been out of this elite World soccer event.
BMO Stadium in Toronto was all “Red” as supporters of the home team came only in red t-shirts to publicly exhibit their allegiance and all out support to their home team. The only exception was a double block behind one of the goalposts which was occupied by fans and supporters of Bosnia Herzegovina.
After Toronto, it is now turn of the British Columbia city of Vancouver to get swarmed by “Red” wave, more so after the home team managed to draw its first FIFA World Cup by holding Bosna Herzegovina to 1-1 draw in the opener.
Even otherwise, entire Canada has turned “red” as this colour also symbolises the colour of its “Maple Leaf”. “Red” stands for Canada and that message has been given loud and clear by the Canadians in the FIFA opener.
ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2026 : Dream start for all the three co-hosts
Other than “Red” jerseys Canadians have also taken upon themselves the onerous task of working as “ambassadors” of their great country as they go out of their way to help the visitors, especially football fans, from other parts of the world. When Bosnian fans were up on feet after their team built an initial 1-0 lead, the Canadians either sat quietly or supported the goal their opponents scored.
And Bosnians, too, responded positively when Canada equalised late in the second half. Bosnians did respond as they clapped while rest of the stands overflowing with “Red” jerseys or T-shirts, gave repeated standing ovations to their team.
Toronto has been allotted six of 13 games given to Canada as a co-host. It has mad elaborate arrangements to keep the atmosphere, friendly, warm, receptive, helpful and congenial. Besides upgrading security, public transport has been supplemented to an extent that wait period is 15 or less minutes. Security and transport have recruited hundreds of temporary workers, mostly students or those on work permits, to keep movement of spectators safe and smooth.
There are hundreds of Indian students who are now a part of the FIFA World Cup workforce. Though they may not get access to watch any of the games being played at BMO Stadium, they have a larger consolation that they have been part of the organisation that is holding for the first time such a massive event for the first time in the history. They will carry back home many memories of meeting and making friends with football fans from across the globe.
Toronto, like all other host cities, has a Fan centre, where all those, who could not ticket to watch the games, come and enjoy the atmosphere of a host city. They not only get a feel of the “host city” but also get to rub shoulders with those who have come here in support of their national teams.
Though Canada has its own multicultural and multiethnic section of population, re-presenting different nationalities, including most of the 48 nations participating in the FIFA World Cup, yet it has a strong overflow from Africa, Europe and South American nations for the event.
Fans in jerseys or T-shirts of various participating nations adorn Toronto streets as the city continues to wear a festive look.
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