I watched the World Cup this summer with a vengeance. Circumstance caught me this year with time on my hands and a television package that gave me all the games everywhere. Canadians all watched and we certainly did get our money’s worth. I want to share a few observations about the whole thing with you today.

First of all, to establish my credentials, I have been a soccer fan my whole life. I didn’t just show up to this summer soccer spectacular with nothing other than ‘Go Canada Go’ on my lips. I have followed the game. One of the highlights of my broadcast career actually has been that I was part of the broadcast of the Canada -Honduras game in 1985 that sent Canada into its first World Cup. Carl Lake did play-by-play and I did colour as Canada defeated Honduras 2-1 at King George V field. It was great. We did nothing in the World Cup but getting there was a big deal.

Manchester United has been my team in English football since the days of the Munich air disaster in 1958 when a Man United charter crashed and tragically killed the heart of the Manchester team. That is when I started following Man U. I did briefly support Chelsea while I lived in London in the late 1960s and actually was at the Chelsea victory parade that wound its way down Earls Court Road after they defeated Leeds 2-1 and won the F A Cup in 1969-70.

I tell you all that now so you will know that I do know something about soccer. I do know enough to understand that Canada this year was never going to win this 2026 World Cup. They weren’t good enough. That doesn’t mean I didn’t support them and Canada did okay and “punched above their weight” as the expression goes in sport.

Canada didn’t finish first, second, third, or fourth. In fact, the team ended up in 14h place when all the points and goals for and goals against calculations were made. That may not sound great but do understand that in the world rankings Canada’s team is now ranked as the 30th best team so finishing 14th this summer wasn’t bad at all.

What did we learn this year? Well, all is never quite as it appears in soccer. Remember brave little Cape Verde was eventually eliminated by Argentina. That tiny island nation captured our hearts BUT of the 26 players on the Cape Verde squad, 15 aren’t from there. Six are from the Netherlands and another four are from Portugal. They have eligibility because of their parents’ birthplace. Not to worry, it is all legal. I cheered them on as they were still classic underdogs.

The good news this from the World Cup, despite all the bull surrounding it, is that the best team won out in the end. Spain had the best team; the best organized team and the deepest team. They also were one of only a half dozen teams or so that had total passion for the game. Spain played as if they had to win. Lionel Messi and Argentina notwithstanding – Spain was the best.

I loved the whole thing. I knew that England couldn’t win, and I knew Canada couldn’t win – and luckily the United States couldn’t win or I would have to endure that silly “USA. USA. USA” chant. The beautiful game of soccer won!

Where now? What is the future of soccer? If you ask me, it is in Africa and has been now for some time. It used to be South America and right now it is Europe. Despite giving Trump a trophy and having to drag him off the stage from the trophy presentation it was still great. The cream rose to the top and the World Cup, with all its flaws, still brings the world together.

Well, at least it takes it is a step in the right direction. The world does pause to watch it and that is a good thing.

You can contact Jim Furlong at jfurlong@ntv.ca