Red, white is prevalent in the Croatian Center of Canada-Croatia

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It’s flu season. world cup flu season

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“There was a big crowd here the other night, a lot of young people,” said Michael Jenkins, managing director of the Croatian Cultural Center.

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“The first Croatia game was at 2am, so that was a big question… School absenteeism in East Vancouver and West Burnaby was very high[the next day],” he added with a laugh.

All matches are played in the CCC, but the match aired early Wednesday morning was Croatia’s first ever cup match. What’s next?

Sunday.

8 am

against Canada.

“It’s not the first time we’ve hosted a World Cup event like this,” said Jenkins, who hosted many German Cup parties while working at the Alpine Club (German House).

“It always starts late and builds up. The game becomes more important and people get more excited. It was a disappointing night (for Croatia) as it was being played.

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“Now that Sunday games are more important, we are seeing a surge in tickets and such.

Croatia, ranked 12th in the world, played against Morocco, ranked 22nd in the world, and drew scoreless. The other teams in Group F, Canada and Belgium, met on Wednesday, with the second-placed Belgian scoring her 1-0 win over her 41st-ranked Canada.

Jenkins said the supply of tickets available for Sunday’s game (around 1,000) is dwindling rapidly, and he expects spectators to cheer on the teams in red and white.

No, it’s the other.

“I’m not sure you’ll find a lot of loud Canadian support,” he said with a laugh. “Most of the people who come here on Sunday are probably rooting for Croatia, but there is certainly more general interest in the game. With so many people coming to the game for the first time, even those who may not have had their eyes on the World Cup before are now doing so.

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“I think it’s going to be tense,” he added of the atmosphere to expect. “Croatia have leveled in the first game, so they will be nervous. Until they score their first goal, they will be nervous.

“People who relax and watch football have more fun and drink more. Everyone has one beer until the first goal is scored, then more beer. ”

And who will Canadian Jenkins root for?

“I’m not going to help Canadians visually. Any support is completely internalized,” he laughed. .

“I’m for both. I think both teams have a chance to go through and that’s the best way to end the group.”

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CCC at 3250 Commercial Dr. isn’t the only place to watch Sunday’s game. Kitsilano’s Hollywood Theater is at capacity for his first free viewing of the Whitecaps in Vancouver on Wednesday, and another huge crowd is expected on Sunday. (Whitecapsfc.com)

There are many pubs in downtown Vancouver where you can catch a game, such as The Pint (455 Abbott St.). Mahoney at False Creek and the Convention Center. Butcher & Block in Gastown (including 2am games); Red Card Eatery and Good Co. (formerly Colony) on Granville Street; Good Co. also has offices in North Vancouver (2100 Dalton Hwy) and Steveston (4020 Bayview Street).

Bells and Whistles also has locations in Fraser and Dunbar, which are also Cup-watching destinations.

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In Surrey, Muslim Food Bank hosts screenings at Hollywood 3 Cinemas, and Donegal’s Irish House does the same. Rendezvous Pub is another option at Langley.

Port Coquitlam is one of the few municipalities to host public viewing, with big-screen TVs in the Port Coquitlam Community Center showing all of Canada’s games.

The Tidemark Theater on the outskirts of Campbell River shows all of Canada’s games. In Victoria, Pacific FC hosts a watch party on Sundays at Bird & Bunker (1022 Government Street). Yates Street Taphouse is another option for Victorian football fans.