Fans gripped by Canada-Switzerland World Cup drama at Ice District watch party

Canada lost to Switzerland at the World Cup Wednesday, but will still advance to the knockout round. CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny has fan reaction.

The crowd at downtown Edmonton’s Ice District was shoulder-to-shoulder on Wednesday afternoon.

Inside the big tent at Fan Park, supporters watched the big screens as Canada faced Switzerland in a crucial group stage match of the FIFA World Cup. At stake in Vancouver’s B.C. Place Stadium: First place in Group B.

But although the men’s national team came up short, losing 2-1 to the Swiss, they advanced to the knockout stage.

And at least one fan among the throng at the Ice District watch party feels “everything is good right now” for Canadians.

“Just have fun. Go for it. Like, everything after this is absolute gravy,” the fan said.

Canadian star Alphonso Davies, the team’s captain and star player, was available to play in the match but did not take the pitch. The 25-year-old, who hails from Edmonton, has been recovering from a hamstring injury.

With the loss, Canada finished second in the group to earn a berth in the Round of 32, the furthest progression by the men’s national team in the tournament. The team has made the World Cup two other times, in 1986 and in 2022, and were eliminated at the group stage both times.

Canada will play Group A’s runner-up in Los Angeles on Sunday.

With the win securing first in Group B, the Swiss will get a week off and await the third-place team from Group E, F, G, I or J for their Round of 32 match in Vancouver on July 2.

Canada’s previous group-stage games saw them beat Qatar and play to a draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Also Wednesday afternoon, Bosnia beat Qatar 3-1 in Seattle to finish third in the group.

Ice District is one of several places across Edmonton hosting watch parties for all the action at this year’s 48-team World Cup, which is being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Games in Canada are being staged in Toronto and Vancouver.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny