TAKING MY DAUGHTERS TO A WORLD CUP MATCH IN LOS ANGELES

The greatest experience with my girls, cheering on Team Canada at the World Cup 2026.

1994 to 2026

There are moments in life that remind us that the greatest gifts we can give our children aren't things—they're experiences. They're the memories that stay with us long after the final whistle, the final score, or the final celebration. This past week, I was fortunate enough to experience one of those moments.

I took my daughters, Demi (Dimitra) and Viviana, to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to watch Canada take on South Africa in the FIFA Men’s World Cup Round of 32. For them, it was their very first World Cup match. For me, it was much more than a football game. It was a full-circle moment that brought back memories of my own childhood and reminded me why traditions matter.

From the moment we arrived at SoFi Stadium, you could feel that this wasn't just another sporting event. More than 69,000 supporters filled the stadium, creating an incredible atmosphere. Everywhere you looked, there was a sea of red and white. Canadian flags waved proudly, chants echoed throughout the stadium, and families from across the country had gathered to support Team Canada. There was an energy that only the World Cup can create—a feeling that every pass, every tackle, and every opportunity carried the weight of a nation behind it.

The match itself was everything you would expect from World Cup knockout football. It was intense, physical, and emotional. South Africa defended exceptionally well, making Canada earn every opportunity. As the minutes ticked away, the tension inside the stadium continued to build. Every attack brought thousands of fans to their feet, knowing that one moment could decide who would move on and who would be going home.

Then came that unforgettable moment.

Deep into stoppage time, with extra time only moments away, Stephen Eustáquio found the breakthrough. The stadium erupted. Complete strangers embraced one another. Canadian flags flew through the air. The roar from the crowd was unlike anything my daughters had ever experienced. Canada secured a dramatic 1–0 victory and advanced to the Round of 16, and for Demi and Viviana, their very first World Cup match ended with a moment they'll never forget.

As incredible as the goal was, I found myself watching my daughters almost as much as I watched the match.

The excitement in their eyes, the cheering after every Canadian attack, and the pure joy they experienced reminded me of another little boy sitting beside his father many years ago.

Immediately, my mind traveled back to 1994.

I can still remember my father taking me to my very first World Cup match. I was just a kid, completely captivated by the atmosphere, the supporters, and the realization that I was watching the world's greatest tournament unfold in front of me. It wasn't just my father and me. My sister and my cousin were there too, and together we shared an experience that has stayed with me for more than three decades.

At the time, I didn't realize my father was giving me much more than a ticket to a football match.

He was giving me a memory.

He was creating a tradition.

He was showing me that time spent together often becomes life's greatest investment.

Looking back now as a father myself, I appreciate those moments more than ever. The score has faded from memory. Many of the players have long since retired. Stadiums have changed, jerseys have evolved, and tournaments have come and gone.

But I still remember how it felt.

I remember walking into the stadium beside my father.

I remember the excitement before kickoff.

I remember sharing those moments with my sister and my cousin.

And I remember leaving with memories that have lasted a lifetime.

Sitting beside Demi and Viviana at SoFi Stadium, I realized that history was quietly repeating itself.

One generation had passed the tradition to the next.

Sports have an incredible ability to connect generations in ways that very few things can. They create shared experiences, teach resilience, inspire dreams, and bring families together. For a few hours, nothing else matters. Different backgrounds, professions, and opinions all disappear as thousands of people unite behind one team and one goal.

Being Canadian has always been an important part of who I am. Watching my daughters proudly cheer for Team Canada on one of the biggest stages in world sport filled me with an incredible sense of pride. It wasn't simply about supporting a national team. It was about sharing a piece of our identity, celebrating where we come from, and continuing a family tradition that began decades earlier with my father.

As parents, we spend so much time trying to give our children every opportunity possible. We invest in their education, encourage their passions, and support their dreams. But experiences like this remind me that some of the most valuable gifts don't come wrapped in a box.

They come wrapped in moments.

Moments that become memories.

Memories that become stories.

Stories that become family traditions.

Years from now, I don't know if Demi and Viviana will remember every detail of Canada's World Cup run. They may not remember every player, every substitution, or every statistic.

But I hope they'll remember walking into SoFi Stadium together.

I hope they'll remember the sea of red and white.

I hope they'll remember celebrating Stephen Eustáquio's dramatic late winner alongside tens of thousands of Canadian supporters.

Most of all, I hope they'll remember that their dad wanted to be there with them.

Because one day, perhaps they'll take their own children to a World Cup match.

And maybe, somewhere in the middle of that experience, they'll think back to a summer evening in Los Angeles when Team Canada advanced, the crowd erupted, and three generations became connected through one beautiful game.

That's the true legacy of sport.

It's never just about the match.

It's about the people beside you when the memories are made.