Soccer

Soccer

NSL PHOTO Halifax Tides’ Julia Benati (second from left) had a beauty of bending boot last Saturday in the club’s 2-0 shutout of the Calgary Wild.

Around the NSL: Bending it like Benati; Calgary’s collapse; Rapid and Roses still on top

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

Welcome back to the View from Row Z, Northern Super League superfans!

While yours truly has been caught up in all things FIFA World Cup since the men’s tournament kicked off June 11 during the NSL’s well-deserved bye week, Week 8 kicked off two days later with a doubleheader last Saturday.

Get your footy-lingo hats on and let’s take a look back at the storylines from last weekend.

Highlight of the week

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Soccer

Carrie Serwetnyk photo Fans give the thumbs up in Vancouver after Canada’s historic first World Cup win. Over 52,000 fans packed in to BC Place to watch the match between Canada and Qatar.

Vancouver festivities spilled into the streets after Canada’s historic first men’s win

Carrie Serwetnyk 7 minute read Preview

Vancouver festivities spilled into the streets after Canada’s historic first men’s win

Carrie Serwetnyk 7 minute read Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

The soccer gods finally smiled down on team Canada Thursday as the home side hammered Qatar 6-0. To boot, it was the first win in World Cup history by Canada’s men.

What a spectacle. Over 52,000 fans, most donning the Maple Leaf, got their money’s worth — and that’s saying something given the ticket prices — as Canada put shot after shot on net at Vancouver Stadium.

It was a dream come true.

Canada came out strong, was up by three goals and a man at halftime — after Homan Ahmed was shown a red card — then cruised to victory on the back of a Jonathan David hat trick — another first for Canada at a World Cup.

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Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

Soccer

Ashley Landis / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cristiano Ronaldo did not score the lone goal for Portugal in the country’s Group K opener on Wednesday in Houston, Texas.

The Ronaldo debate continues

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

The Ronaldo debate continues

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

It is dividing families, splitting cities and carving a nation in two. There’s a generational component and, because it’s a 21st century matter, an online venue. International observers are being asked to pick a side.

Should Cristiano Ronaldo start Portugal’s upcoming match against Uzbekistan?

Some facts to consider: Ronaldo is the all-time top goalscorer in men’s international football; his international goals-per-match average is better than Lionel Messi’s; he’s won five Ballons d’Or and has claimed top-player honours in England, Spain and Italy; 10 years ago he captained his country to a first European Championship.

That’s the argument, or most of it, in the Verde-e-Brancos parts of Lisbon, among the highest and lowest age categories of Seleção supporters, and in Portugal’s central and southern regions, generally speaking.

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Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

Soccer

Abbie Parr / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Jonathan David’s (left) teammates celebrate his hat trick in Vancouver on Thursday. Canada’s 6-0 route of Qatar made history as no CONCACAF team has scored more than four goals in a single game at the World Cup.

Midfielder’s injury gives Canada a greater purpose to succeed

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

Midfielder’s injury gives Canada a greater purpose to succeed

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Some important questions needed answering in Canada’s second game of the 2026 World Cup. Well, consider them answered. And how.

Perhaps the most practical query involved striker Jonathan David, whose disappointing club season at Juventus seemed to seep into the national team’s Group B opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

After his early substitution in Toronto, would he start in Vancouver?

The answer: yes.

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Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Soccer

Kevin Sousa / REUTERS Canada’s Cyle Larin’s tying goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina Friday gave life to co-host’s knock-out round push.

Canadian men have momentum in Group B after late Larin goal

Jerrad Peters 4 minute read Preview

Canadian men have momentum in Group B after late Larin goal

Jerrad Peters 4 minute read Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

It was a draw that felt like a win.

Had Canada lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina Friday afternoon, its home World Cup would not have been guaranteed beyond next week.

Instead, the pressure is a little bit less. And in a tournament where margins matter, less is preferable to more.

Just contemplate what almost was.

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Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

Soccer

Moises Castillo / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Spain is one of the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup. But even if the team cruises to a Group H win, history tells a different tale about tourney juggernauts. Thomas Padilla / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Head coach Didier Deschamps (right) looks to lead World Cup co-favourite Kylian Mbappé (left) and France to football’s promised land.

May the best team win… maybe

Jerrad Peters 7 minute read Preview

May the best team win… maybe

Jerrad Peters 7 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 10, 2026

The best team doesn’t always win the World Cup.

The Netherlands knows this; Hungary, too. And Brazil, the only country with five stars on its shirt, might be forgiven for wanting seven.

Those are the most famous examples, and we’ll get to them. But a number of others deserve recognition as well — none of it detracting from the teams that actually lifted the trophy.

Like Austria, for example.

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Wednesday, Jun. 10, 2026

Soccer

NSL PHOTO FILES Kaylee Hunter’s (right) breakaway strike for AFC Toronto against her hometown club on Sunday was a beauty off perfect tick-tack-toe passes from teammates April Lantaigne and Nikayla Small.

Around the NSL: Heavyweight clashes; a passing clinic; and the new race for first place

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: Heavyweight clashes; a passing clinic; and the new race for first place

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Remember the early edition of this column from last week? Well, how ’bout that thrilling clash between the Halifax Tides and Ottawa Rapid?

The saves from Kitchener, Ont., product Rylee Foster and Swedish phenom Mollie Eriksson alone were worth the watch.

Then the Rapid’s Jyllissa Harris banked in a rebound off a perfectly placed high boot from teammate Jung Min-Young. Then came Dorchester, Ont., native Julia Benati’s ball that bent over the fingertips of Eriksson as the home side tied the game at one-all.

Then in the chaos of the 88th minute, with Foster scrambling for a stop, the goalkeeper fumbled the save in front of Delaney Baie Pridham’s foot — who made sure to launch a strike into the net for Ottawa to take control of the game in the dying minutes.

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Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Soccer

NSL PHOTO Halifax Tides’ Cho so-Hyun (left) and Ottawa Rapid’s Jung Minyoung race to the ball in Week 1 action. The two club’s clash for the third time this season in a much-anticipated Friday matinee tilt.

Around the NSL: Vancouver rising; a tale of three strikes; Tides turning

Grace Anne Paizen 5 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: Vancouver rising; a tale of three strikes; Tides turning

Grace Anne Paizen 5 minute read Thursday, May. 28, 2026

Welcome to an early edition of View from Row Z! There’s a fantastic Friday night match-up in the works and it would be remiss to not give the contest a proper hype up before kickoff.

Before getting into that, let’s give some credit where credit is due: Vancouver is finally rising in the ranks.

Once again head coach Anja Heiner-Moller threw Jessica Wulf into the net and again the Japanese phenom proved the right choice.

Wulf withstood 16 shots from AFC Toronto with the Rise managing just six. The young goalkeeper also survived all five corners from the Mighty Maroons and only relinquished a goal in the second minute of added time to Richmond Hill, Ont., product Cloey Uddenberg’s foot.

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Thursday, May. 28, 2026

Soccer

KEVIN SOUSA / NSL Montreal’s Noémi Paquin (right) celebrates teammate Elyse Bennett’s (left) goal Sunday against AFC Toronto. Bennett has had a goal a game so far — including two in the season opener — for the Roses.

Around the NSL: Vancouver falling, Bennett’s boot, Montreal still perfect

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: Vancouver falling, Bennett’s boot, Montreal still perfect

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Friday, May. 15, 2026

IT’S fine and dandy to be accused of being a broken record, because… to go from the best to the worst? In one season? What’s up with that, Vancouver Rise?

Do the Calgary Wild also have zero points so far this season? Yes. But no one was necessarily expecting the Wild to come tearing out of the gates.

The defending Matheson Cup champions? Yeah, fans were expecting more from them — and rightly so.

The Rise led the league in clean sheets last season. Goalkeeper Morgan McAslan recorded nine shutouts and received the 2025 Golden Glove award.

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Friday, May. 15, 2026

Soccer

DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the ticket pricing by comparing the World Cup fixture list to a series of Super Bowls kicking off up to four times each day.

World Cup trolling takes to the air

Jerrad Peters 4 minute read Preview

World Cup trolling takes to the air

Jerrad Peters 4 minute read Friday, May. 15, 2026

You know you’ve done something very, very foolish when an airline is trolling you.

People don’t generally like airlines. Or, they’re at least apathetic to them — relying on the check-in staff, flight attendants, pilots and actual planes to get them from one place to another, preferably safe and sound and with a modicum of dignity.

The soaring price of jet fuel, a consequence of the pumpkin patch baby’s Iranian adventure, and resulting rise in fares has only made the carriers even more unpopular.

They know it. They also know they’ve still got a healthier brand, somehow, than FIFA.

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Friday, May. 15, 2026

Opinion

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde (left) won’t be on the bus for Sunday’s Clásico in Barcelona after a Thursday punch-up with teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni.

Real Madrid president Pérez’s apathy like a wound in salt

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

Real Madrid president Pérez’s apathy like a wound in salt

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Friday, May. 8, 2026

You know the schoolyard is out of control when parents’ phone calls to the office are the least of the principal’s worries.

Fisticuffs that end up requiring wheelchairs and trips to the hospital? Now those are actual problems. And when a third of the students simply refuse to acknowledge their teacher’s existence, you’ve got something deep-rooted on your hands.

Administration can only do so much. At some point the little brats must learn to play nice. Otherwise, they risk suspension from Escuela de Valdebebas.

Already, Federico Valverde and Dani Ceballos won’t be on the bus for Sunday’s field trip to Barcelona.

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Friday, May. 8, 2026

Opinion

LUCA BRUNO / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Inter Milan is on the verge of its third Scudetto in five years win on top of making it to the Coppa Italia final, but other Italian soccer scandals have detracted from the club’s exceptional run.

Nerazzurri on brink of 21st Scudetto… not that anyone’s talking about it

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

Nerazzurri on brink of 21st Scudetto… not that anyone’s talking about it

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Friday, May. 1, 2026

Inter Milan will likely win its 21st Scudetto on Sunday. And if not Sunday, then next Saturday. And if not then…well, it will have.

Should Napoli and AC Milan lose to Como and Sassuolo, respectively, it would even be champions before kicking off against Parma at San Siro (1:45 p.m., FuboTV).

Typically, an imminent title would be the main talking point — and by some distance — in the days before that title is won. It would also be expected that this Inter group would get its flowers, what with the next few weeks being a sort of last hurrah.

Goalkeepers Yann Sommer and Raffaele Di Gennaro, defenders Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard (who has spent this season on loan to Marseille), wing-back Matteo Darmian and playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan are all out of contract in June. Federico Dimarco and Hakan Çalhanoglu have another year remaining on theirs, but the latter will almost certainly depart at that point, if not before.

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Friday, May. 1, 2026

Soccer

France's Kylian Mbappe, right, watches Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Messi wins World Cup, Argentina beats France on penalties

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Messi wins World Cup, Argentina beats France on penalties

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press 7 minute read Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi, wearing a black Qatari robe over his blue-and-white Argentina shirt, kissed the World Cup, shuffled toward his teammates and hoisted the golden trophy high in the air.

It was an iconic sight that finally — definitively — places the soccer superstar in the pantheon of the game’s greatest players.

Messi’s once-in-a-generation career is complete: He is a World Cup champion.

In probably the wildest final in the tournament's 92-year history, Argentina won its third World Cup title by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw featuring two goals from the 35-year-old Messi and a hat trick by his heir apparent, France forward Kylian Mbappé.

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Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

Soccer

Morocco's Achraf Dari, right, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Croatia beats Morocco 2-1 to take 3rd place at World Cup

James Robson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Croatia beats Morocco 2-1 to take 3rd place at World Cup

James Robson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup.

The runners-up from four years ago secured another medal by beating Morocco 2-1 in the third-place match on Saturday.

Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before halftime at Khalifa International Stadium to ensure Modric finished on a winning note, if this does turn out to be his last World Cup match.

At the age of 37, that seems likely, even if there are hopes he will lead his country at the 2024 European Championship.

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Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

Soccer

Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan honoured for save of the year for U.S. stop

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

Milan Borjan's reflex stop against the U.S. in January has earned the Canadian goalkeeper the Allstate Canadian National Teams Good Hands Award for save of the year.

The save came in the 42nd minute of a World Cup qualifying game Jan. 30 at Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field.

With Canada leading 1-0, a Christian Pulisic corner found the head of American forward Weston McKennie. Standing on his goal-line, Borjan jumped straight up and pawed the ball way with his right hand.

The Canadian men went on to win 2-0, taking another step towards World Cup qualification.

Soccer

Samuel Charron is seen during Para Soccer Training Camp in Oakville, Ont., in an Oct. 2, 2022, handout photo. Charron has been named Canada Soccer’s Para Soccer Player of the Year for a third time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canada Soccer, Martin Bazyl, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Samuel Charron, Daniel Chamale honoured as Canada Soccer’s top Para, futsal players

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Samuel Charron, Daniel Chamale honoured as Canada Soccer’s top Para, futsal players

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

TORONTO - Samuel Charron has been named Canada Soccer’s Para Soccer Player of the Year for a third time with Daniel Chamale honoured as Canada Soccer Futsal Player of the Year.

Charron, who has been part of the Canadian program since 2010, also won the award in 2016 and '19. He has represented Canada at five International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football World Cups and was named player of the tournament award in 2019 and 2022.

The 24-year-old from Ottawa has 48 career goals in 56 international 'A' matches.

“Samuel is a great captain and leader both on and off the field for our national team,” Drew Ferguson, Canada Soccer’s Para Soccer head coach, said in a statement. “We had a great World Cup and Samuel was the Most Valuable Player as we finished ninth in the world.

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Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

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