World Cup City

Toronto is one of those multiculturally-rich cosmopolitan cities where the variety of foods and languages is matched only by the diversity of our leisure time pursuits. This makes it the ideal place to experience the World Cup of soccer, or more properly football. (It's only Canada and the US that one must distinguish between soccer and football; soccer IS football everywhere else in the world.)

During World Cup play, the flag sellers are out in force, and automobiles throughout the region sport flags in support of their favorite team nation. No flags for Canada Day yet, which is July 1st, but we don't mind. There is enthusiasm in the air. We're somewhat disappointed that Korea didn't make it a bit farther, but we're rooting just as strongly for Germany, Portugal, Ghana, England, Spain, France, and Brazil, the same way we supported Angola, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, and the Netherlands.

Today both Italy and Ukraine teams won their matches. Toronto's Italian and Ukrainian communities celebrated boisterously. Many of us were Italian or Ukrainian for at least a few moments so we could cheer, too. And there are still matches to go. Ultimately, it doesn't really, really matter which team wins the World Cup. It will be a great excuse for a celebration in a city that needs no excuses. There are Torontonians and Canadians from every one of the nations represented in the World Cup.

Germany and other locations might HAVE the World Cup; in Toronto we ARE the World Cup.

BTW, isn't it cool that the final match will be in Berlin?