Canada’s first men’s World Cup match on home soil drew more than just soccer fans. A crowd of 43,002 at BMO Field also included a cluster of familiar Canadian celebrities, and the late equalizer from Cyle Larin gave them a reason to celebrate.
Ryan Reynolds, Connor McDavid and Mike Myers were among the names announced at the Toronto stadium for the historic match against Bosnia. Alanis Morissette also attended and closed the pregame ceremony with a spirited performance of “O Canada.”
Celebrity presence adds to the moment
Myers wore a Canada jersey and a red bucket hat, while Reynolds was seen applauding and cheering when Larin scored. Canada head coach Jesse Marsch said he noticed the star-studded turnout, including music producer Boi-1da, but said his focus remained on helping the team deliver a result the country could be proud of.
“Mike Myers was here? Oh, cool!” Marsch said. “At one point I saw on TV Boi-1da. I know there are a lot of different people enjoying the World Cup in Canada, but because of my job, I’m focused, totally focused on making sure we can give the country a team to be proud of.”
A point that made history
Larin’s goal in the closing minutes secured a 1-1 draw and gave Canada its first World Cup point in team history. The equalizer also turned a packed stadium into a loud celebration, with only a few open spaces in the lower bowl and high in the temporary upper stands.
Canada had previously hosted the women’s World Cup in 2015 and the Olympic Games in both winter and summer editions, but this was the country’s first time staging the men’s World Cup. The tournament will feature 13 matches split between Toronto and Vancouver.
Players did not see the celebrities in the stands, but they felt the atmosphere. Defender Alistair Johnston said the turnout showed the moment was more than a casual public appearance.
“You know, it wasn’t just ‘let’s show up for a picnic and a nice afternoon,’” Johnston said. “They were totally into it.”