You know soccer is having a moment here when even Mick Jagger gave a shoutout to sa国际传媒’s national team to rousing applause during the Rolling Stones’ concert at sa国际传媒 Place on Friday night.
sa国际传媒’s run to the Copa Americas semifinals against Lionel Messi and defending World Cup holder Argentina is the topic of conversation across all levels of soccer in this country. It can only be a good thing from the grassroots youth programs on up to the professional Canadian Premier League as sa国际传媒 prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup in that same building in which the Stones performed Friday.
“You see the response and the following across the country,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman.
“You see the social media following and the reaction of the fans and the support the national team is getting. The team has the nation behind it.”
It’s a big week at the club level, also, with the Canadian Championship semifinals on Wednesday with PFC of the CPL meeting the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer at Starlight Stadium and Forge FC of the CPL taking on Toronto FC of MLS at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont.
But first up for PFC (4-4-4 in wins-losses-draws in league play and 6-4-5 overall) is a league game today against CPL-leading Atletico Ottawa (7-1-4 in league) at 10 a.m. PT at TD Place Stadium in the nation’s capital.
“We know it’s a massive week for us,” said Merriman.
“It’s never easy. We’ve lost two [league] matches in a row in a couple of performances we would want back. We need to be together. We know it’s a big week and it’s a heavy week and a busy week.
“We had a good week of training and a good push from the guys. The attitude and mentality in the group has been excellent.”
It will need to be, with a draining cross-country travel schedule, today in Ottawa followed by the Cup game back on the Island against the Whitecaps, and a trip back out east to play Forge FC in Hamilton next Sunday.
Today’s game in Ottawa is a bit of a grudge match after PFC knocked off Atletico in the Canadian Championship quarter-finals for the right to advance to play the Whitecaps in the semis.
“We know Ottawa will want revenge,” said Merriman.
The all-time series between Atletico and the Tridents is tied 5-5-6.
CORNER KICKS: In some good news for PFC, goalkeepers Emil Gazdov and Sean Melvin are both listed as healthy for today’s game after missing the last three games due to illness for Gazdov and injury to Melvin.
