Watch above: Excitement is mounting in Saskatoon as residents get set to cheer on a hometown favorite in the FIFA tournament. Aaron Streck finds out who’s got ‘FIFA fever’ leading up to Team Canada’s first game tomorrow.
SASKATOON – Team Canada arrived to a roaring crowd in Edmonton Tuesday.
“I’m tearing up already, it’s an incredible welcome, we didn’t expect this,” said Team Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
“I think just being here and seeing the amount of excitement here at the airport for us I think it’s sinking in to everyone that this city’s really going to get behind us and help us through this,” added Team Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe.
And the same can be said for the rest of the country. For the next month, Canada will be on the world stage, welcoming 23 other nations to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
FULL COVERAGE: FIFA Women’s World Cup
“Right on the goal line, right where the corner kicks are going to be kicked and five rows up,” said John Grainger, Soccer Locker owner in Saskatoon.
John Grainger wasn’t going to miss his shot at witnessing history, buying his tickets to Canada’s opener at the beginning of January.
“Especially when we found out the opener for Canada was going to be in Edmonton … we had to be there,” said Grainger.
While Saskatoon isn’t one of the host cities, Grainger can feel the hype and knows many more people like him willing to make the trip.
“Its generated a lot of excitement, especially since we’re so close to where the games are happening in Winnipeg and Edmonton, there’s a lot of people in this community taking in both venues,” said Grainger.
A tournament the calibre of the World Cup being played on Canadian soil attracts more then your typical soccer fan.
Saskatoon’s own soccer star Kaylyn Kyle, already with Olympic bronze, will be looking to add World Cup gold. An idol many youngsters are sure to look up to.
“It shows them that anything is possible, she came through the same system that they’re in right now,” said Saskatchewan Soccer Association director of operations Dave Nutt.
No matter where Kyle and her teammates finish, just hosting the games in Canada is expected to do wonders for soccer in the country.
Canada opens the tournament Saturday afternoon against China.
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