"It's gonna be huge" - the official tournament slogan of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007 - has fulfilled its promise.
The tournament has already set an attendance record for a FIFA U-20 World Cup and will finish on Sunday with a cumulative attendance of 1,195,239. Along with the final two matches, 31 of the 52 matches were sold out. The competition has been broadcast in 200 countries and territories around the world.
FIFA's flagship youth event has become not only the largest single-sport event in Canada, but has also made history beyond the host country's borders.
The record breaking attendance shows that there is obviously great support for soccer for Canada. I think the country is ready to take soccer to the next level. How about Canada bidding for the World Cup? Great infrastructure, friendly people, beautiful country, and lots of good beer. Ding, Ding. We have the makings of a winner.
Too bad our Canadian national team would be exactly competitive. The Koreans could school us.
But apart from that niggling detail, hey, bring it on.
They need to plant some real grass and get rid of that field turf crap. I've played on it, definitely not fun. But if they can grow grass in the silverdome for the 94 cup, anything is possible.