Alphonso Davies is trying to do something audacious — create a generational shift in the very nature of Canada’s sporting make-up. He might just do it if Canada pulls off a result tonight against CONCACAF power Mexico (6 p.m. PT) at frigid Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
“They say Canada is a hockey country. We want to change that,” said the Canadian soccer prodigy, in a Zoom call with the Canadian sports media.
“I never had an idol on the Canadian national team. The next generation of kids are now looking up to us. They are seeing the country is doing well in major tournaments. There is so much talent on this team. We want to open up more opportunities for youth football in Canada.”
Davies said he “hears the jokes” [about Canadian soccer] as a prodigy on Bayern Munich.
“I take it personally,” he said.
“I want to show Bayern Munich teammates we can compete against you guys [European nations] as well.”
Undefeated Canada is in third place after seven games in the eight-team final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, one point behind traditional regional qualifiers Mexico and the U.S. The top-three advance to Qatar 2022 with the fourth place side advancing to a last-chance, at-large world qualifier.
The only other time Canada has been to the World Cup was in 1986 with a heavy sprinkling of amateur players from the Vancouver Island Soccer League.
“This is something that has not been done since 1986. We want to change that,” said Davies.
“This team is opening people’s eyes and we believe we can make it to the World Cup. Everyone is hungry to be there. Some people underestimated us before the Hex [final round] and counted us out.”
Also don’t expect a just-happy-to-be-there attitude if 2022 World Cup qualification happens.
“We don’t want to become one of those teams that says we were so close and it was a good run. We want to do something there [Qatar],” said Davies.
“The World Cup is one of the biggest achievements you can have as a footballer. Anything can happen. We have the team to do it.”
Davies came to Canada with his family at age five as refugees fleeing the civil war in Liberia. They settled in Edmonton. Despite that, Davies said he had been in Commonwealth Stadium only three times before Canada’s 1-0 victory over Costa Rica there Friday. The first of those previous fleeting occasions was a Grey Cup game in the other football that he had slipped into: “I spent five minutes there. We had no tickets but no one saw us, but I had to go home, and it wasn’t really interesting to me.”
Canada’s shifting sports demographics were on display with nearly 50,000 people attending the Canada victory over Costa Rica with more than that expected tonight at Commonwealth Stadium despite temperatures well below sub-zero.
“People underestimate the soccer culture in Edmonton — it is a big one,” said Davies.
It is becoming Canada-wide.
“The country is behind this team in a way I don’t think any of us believed was going to happen,” said Canada head coach John Herdman, following the victory over Costa Rica.
“This team feels the country is behind them. When we arrived at the stadium [before the Costa Rica game] the fans were rocking the bus. I mean, it’s like something like we’ve never experienced.”
And about the ultimate home-field Canadian advantage tonight?
“The weather is a challenge even for us Canadians,” said Davies.
“But we’re used to it and hopefully it plays in our favour.”
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
