If you ask fans of the Canadian national soccer team - men’s or women’s - how their fandom began, the story is usually the same. Either because someone dragged them out or just out of curiosity, they went to a match.
The stands weren't necessarily full, although that has changed of late. The team on the field, particularly the men, weren't always putting on the best performances. But watching Canada play at home is infectious.
With that in mind, Canada Soccer deserves credit for putting together a strong lineup of cross-country matches this summer. Having 35,062 combined people attend Canadian women’s national team matches in Winnipeg and Toronto will go a long way toward continuing to cultivate that fan base.