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u/golfguy2011

r/tfc r/HisenseFootballZone
Finally got my dad (TFC fan from the start 2007) to a FIFA World Cup game after 32 years of waiting, he didn’t say a word when we walked in
▲ 948 r/tfc

Finally got my dad (TFC fan from the start 2007) to a FIFA World Cup game after 32 years of waiting, he didn’t say a word when we walked in

We walked into the BMO Field or Toronto stadium Friday for Senegal vs Iraq, and my dad just stopped. Didn’t say anything. Just stood there looking around, taking it all in.

My dad’s a lifelong soccer fan, born in China, moved to Toronto in 1990. He gave up basically everything he knew to come here so I could have a better opportunity at life, and that move ended up giving him my sister too, born after they settled here. He’s supported TFC since the start, and back in 1994 he tried to go to a World Cup game but we couldn’t afford it. That was 32 years ago.

Tickets this time were brutal to get for the Toronto games. My mom, my sister, and I pooled together to get two for him and me. I didn’t tell him how hard it was, just that we were going. After everything he gave up for me, this felt like the least we could do.
He wore a Senegal jersey to the match. On the walk to the stadium, Senegal fans kept stopping him for photos, he was buzzing the whole way in, getting treated like one of their own before he’d even sat down.

Then we got through the gates and the stadium opened up in front of him. He just went quiet. No big reaction, no crying, just standing still, looking at everything, like he was making sure it was real.

Senegal scored 5 goals that game, and every single one he was up out of his seat with the fans around us, fully part of it. By the end he had the complete World Cup experience, the jersey, the strangers who treated him like family, the goals, all of it.

I’ve watched a lot of games with my dad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that quiet as he was walking in. He’s 70 now. It took 32 years, but he finally got his World Cup game.

Thanks to all the TFC fans over the years, he loves TFC.

Today he went to Canada Soccer House and watched Canada win there with all the fans. He can’t stop talking about the last couple weeks. Thank you to everyone who has made his experience so amazing!

imgur.com
u/golfguy2011 — 7 days ago
▲ 236 r/HisenseFootballZone

Finally got my dad (70 year old) to a FIFA World Cup game after 32 years of waiting, he didn’t say a word when we walked in

We walked into the stadium Friday for Senegal vs Iraq, and my dad just stopped. Didn’t say anything. Just stood there looking around, taking it all in.

My dad’s a lifelong soccer fan, born in China, moved to Toronto in 1990. He gave up basically everything he knew to come here so I could have a better opportunity at life, and that move ended up giving him my sister too, born after they settled here. He’s supported (Toronto FC) TFC since the start, and back in 1994 he tried to go to a World Cup game but we couldn’t afford it. That was 32 years ago.

Tickets this time were brutal to get for the Toronto games. My mom, my sister, and I pooled together to get two for him and me. I didn’t tell him how hard it was, just that we were going. After everything he gave up for me, this felt like the least we could do.
He wore a Senegal jersey to the match. On the walk to the stadium, Senegal fans kept stopping him for photos, he was buzzing the whole way in, getting treated like one of their own before he’d even sat down.

Then we got through the gates and the stadium opened up in front of him. He just went quiet. No big reaction, no crying, just standing still, looking at everything, like he was making sure it was real.
Senegal scored 5 goals that game, and every single one he was up out of his seat with the fans around us, fully part of it. By the end he had the complete World Cup experience, the jersey, the strangers who treated him like family, the goals, all of it.

I’ve watched a lot of games with my dad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that quiet as he was walking in. He’s 70 now. It took 32 years, but he finally got his World Cup game.

Thanks to all the TFC fans over the years, all the fans during Senegal v Iraq game.

And Today: Canada just beat South Africa in the round of 32, and my dad went to Canada Soccer House to catch it with other fans.

Got a picture of him mid-celebration when the goal went in. After 32 years of waiting to be part of a World Cup moment in person, he’s now had two in one tournament, the Senegal match in the stadium, and this one surrounded by a room of strangers who became friends for 90 minutes.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone in this community and every fan we’ve crossed paths with this tournament, you’ve made this the best World Cup experience he could’ve asked for. He can’t stop talking about the last few days.

u/golfguy2011 — 7 days ago