It’s an a historic day for Canadian Soccer.
After a vote by FIFA Congress Wednesday (June 13, 2018) morning, Canada along with the United States and Mexico, will host the 2026 World Cup.
Mahone Bay resident, Bob Sayer, is no stranger to the world of soccer, having spent the better part of 50 years coaching in and around the South Shore as well as being inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame back in 1992.
Sayer feels the announcement is fantastic news for both sports fans alike and the economy here in Canada.
“We’re going to get Spanish commentators going ‘go-go-go-go-goaaalll’ and they’ll turn everybody on, it’ll be terrific television coverage across the world and media coverage as well,” Sayer tells Acadia News.
Not only was Sayer the coach for the South Shore United Football Club, he also helped to found the Lunenburg District Youth Soccer Association, and he notes something as big as the World Cup (Football) unites sorts fans around the globe.
The Mahone Bay resident says it’ll be interesting to see if Canada will qualify for the Tournament in 2026 given that hosts typically get an automatic qualify.
“If Canada do not have to go through a qualifying program and be automatic, again we’ll be watching Canada at the World Cup; this only happened once before so soccer people and sports people in Canada will be thrilled,” adds Sayer.
Mexico has played host to the World Cup twice before while the United States has hosted once, in 1994.
Story by Craig Power
@CraigTPower
Above Photo: Canadian Flag, © C. Power 2016.
