World Cup watch party held in Amherstburg

A watch party was held last Saturday on Richmond St. for the Canada-Morocco World Cup match.

Canada’s run in the World Cup may have ended, but it did so after watch parties across the country.

Canadian soccer players set milestones in the FIFA World Cup, including getting their first win and advancing to the round of 16, with the latter game against Morroco  being last Saturday afternoon.

Canada dropped a 3-0 decision to Morocco with about 30 people watching it outdoors under tents in front of River Bookshop and Evelyn’s Candy House.

“All of Canada is coming together,” said business owner Richard Peddie. “It’s pretty special. 

In 2007, Peddie, then head of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), helped launch Toronto FC and helping to build a dedicated soccer stadium. 

“My job was to grow the value of Maple Leaf Sports,” he said. 

When efforts were made to bring MLS soccer to Toronto, he met with league executives, the mayor of Toronto and the Canadian Soccer Association and the team was later founded.

Peddie believes the sport growing in population to where about 12 million people in Canada say they are following the sport was helped by Toronto getting a team. Canada’s earlier success at the World Cup is expected to increase that enthusiasm.

“It’s one of those classic Canadian things. It’s bringing the country together,” he said of Canada’s run at the World Cup. 

With watch parties happening in locations nationwide, Peddie said he and wife Colleen said “let’s do one in Amherstburg.” 

Attendees had the chance to win soccer-themed prizes throughout the event.

Peddie added they have been active in the community over the past number of years, with this weekend’s Amherstburg Art Crawl mentioned as one of the events.

“My days leading Maple Leaf Sports and Toronto FC are long past, but I am still a ‘footie’ fan - wear their colours and root for their success,” said Peddie. 

World Cup watch party held in Amherstburg

By Ron Giofu