What to know
- Toronto is home to the Portuguese and Croatian communities, which have many fans come out in support.
- Excitement and pride are running high, with fans celebrating the opportunity to see football legends like Ronaldo and Luka Modrić up close.
- The match is seen as a milestone for Toronto’s growing reputation as a world-class sports city.
Cristiano Ronaldo has set foot in Toronto for the Portugal-Croatia game on Thursday evening, and FIFA World Cup fans are calling this a big moment for Toronto.
The soccer superstar is set to play with Portugal against Croatia in the Round of 32 at Toronto Stadium on Thursday evening.
Fans are hyped for the game and are even prouder that it’s happening in Toronto, calling it a big event for the city.
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Some World Cup fans believe this game will “unite the world”
One Portuguese fan feels honoured that his home country is playing in Toronto.
“Portugal has one of the biggest Portuguese populations outside of Portugal, so this is truly like a home game for us. We’re just living the dream,” he said.
This fan has been following the team since he was a child, and can’t wait to remember his much-anticipated victory.
“Beyond that, we’re going to remember the amount of passion that lives in this city for sports, for the Portuguese national team, for the Croatians too,” he told Now Toronto. “It’s a great moment for the community to come together and to show what football actually does, which is unite the world.”
Another fan agrees, saying, “It’s huge for the city.”
“There’s a huge Portuguese culture, and there’s a huge Croatian culture here in Toronto. I think they’re both going to show up for both players, Luka and Ronaldo,” he said.
He added that this sport brings everyone together.
“We forget about everything that’s happening in the world, and the game brings everyone together. Forget everything else.”
Another Portugal fan says it’s amazing to see Ronaldo in Toronto.
“We don’t know if he’s coming back after this year or this World Cup, so we’re excited to see him,” she said. “I feel really fortunate that I can be here to watch him with my brother and our friends. The fact that we can see him in person, play, I think it’s just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
