2018 Belgium – 2018 Joseph, July 2, 2018July 2, 2018 In the knockout round, when choosing which team to photograph, I usually go for the underdog. The theory is that if the underdog wins, then they will be even that much more pumped. If the underdog is defeated, well, it was the last chance to photograph those fans anyway. All… Continue Reading
2018 Croatia – 2018 Joseph, July 1, 2018July 2, 2018 The last time I was in Croatia Parish Park was in 2006, there were no goals in the match, it was relatively borning, but I remember it fondly and have always loved the checkered uniforms of the Croatian fans. With Croatia so dominate in the group stage of the 2018… Continue Reading
2018 Portugal – 2018 Joseph, July 1, 2018July 2, 2018 There are so many great Portuguese focused bars in Toronto, it’s hard to pick just one. As for some teams, I like to just wander the most likely intersections and find a bar that looks the most intriguing. Plus, I love a bar that has their fourth wall all the… Continue Reading
2018 France – 2018 Joseph, July 1, 2018July 2, 2018 The first game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup knockout round was a pure gem, with back and forth scoring and a full seven goals scored. With Argentina going home and France feeling as confident as ever, it is yet another great sub-plot going on in this year’s World Cup…. Continue Reading
2018 Switzerland – 2018 Joseph, June 28, 2018June 28, 2018 Unlike the Germany game in the morning, there wasn’t quite as much tension with the Swiss fans at The Rushton on St. Clair Avenue West. It was a much fancier establishment then a lot of the other venues I’ve been to watch the games, but it was hand selected by… Continue Reading
2018 Germany – 2018 Joseph, June 27, 2018June 27, 2018 Wow. Germany, the reigning world champions, will not advance to the knockout stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. I’ve watched a lot of World Cup games here in Toronto, and this was by far the most nervously intense crowd I have witnessed. I’ll save any writing on the game… Continue Reading
2018 Egypt – 2018 Joseph, June 25, 2018June 26, 2018 I do my best to photograph teams as early in the tournament as possible, ideally game one or two. With Egypt, despite heroic attempts to catch game two, I was left capturing fans for their third and final game. Considering it was a match between two teams already eliminated from… Continue Reading
2018 Senegal – 2018 Joseph, June 24, 2018July 19, 2018 Senegal, you won the hearts of the world in the opening round! With your glorious warm-ups, a magnanimous coach, fans cleaning up after themselves, not to mention, stellar play-making, you quite quickly became the team so many were cheering for. So humble, I had difficulty finding you anywhere. This is… Continue Reading
2018 Iran – 2018 Joseph, June 21, 2018June 25, 2018 I’ve had some really great experiences with Iranian fans over my 12 years doing this project. In fact, an Iranian fan in 2006 was the first and only fan to hand me a flag from their country. I still have it to this day. In 2014, with the Iran fans,… Continue Reading
2018 Panama – 2018 Joseph, June 19, 2018June 28, 2018 It took me a while to find supporters of Panama. I had not had any significant leads before their first game, I knew I would find a row of cars with Panama flags and a bar packed with supporters somewhere along St. Clair Avenue West. Sure enough, I found the… Continue Reading
2018 Peru – 2018 Joseph, June 17, 2018June 17, 2018 There were a number of great bars and restaurants to watch the World Cup with Peru fans in the GTA, but I’m so glad I stuck with my gut and headed to Mochica on College St. Not only was it packed with flags and jerseys on what seems like almost… Continue Reading
2018 Iceland – 2018 Joseph, June 17, 2018June 28, 2018 I was slightly worried about finding fans of the smallest country ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, but the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto organized a viewing at The Football Factory on Bathurst and Iceland fans responded. Although we didn’t get a well organized thunder/viking clap in the… Continue Reading
2018 Spain – 2018 Joseph, June 15, 2018June 25, 2018 What a wild game! Down early, ahead late, only to draw in the final minutes by a hat-trick from Ronaldo, it’s an instant classic. Of course, I only watched the first half with the Spanish fans gathered at Tapas at Embrujo on The Danforth, but even that was enough of… Continue Reading
2018 Morocco – 2018 Joseph, June 15, 2018June 26, 2018 At the very last minute I got wind of a gathering of Moroccan fans for their first game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Jack Astor’s on Front Street. About a dozen supporters trickled in over the first half and were enthusiastic throughout the match. Part of the fun… Continue Reading
2014 Argentina – 2014 Joseph, July 10, 2014March 31, 2018 Sky Ranch Restaurant was unanimously picked as the place to be in Toronto to watch Argentina in the World Cup. I hadn’t been there yet, and what better time to go than during a semi-final game! Turns out to be an absolute gem, and I didn’t even try the food…. Continue Reading
2014 Russia – 2014 Joseph, June 26, 2014April 28, 2018 I didn’t think it was going to be so difficult to find the Russians. As one of only four new teams in the 2014 World Cup for me to photograph, they were an ESSENTIAL team for me to find this year. It took me, literally, until the final ten minutes… Continue Reading