I was in Canada a few years ago during Canada Day, visiting a family friend for a graduation party. It was a small town in Saskatchewan where not a single Uber or Lyft existed, nor was public transport regularly utilized, so driving yourself was imperative. Driving on the main thoroughfares, you would be hard-pressed to see a bustling town. On a 20-minute drive, 18 minutes was straight grass all around. I was getting ready in my hotel room preparing to head out for the graduation party festivities and I remember Trudeau delivering a speech on Canada Day on the television, saying something along the lines that Canada is a promised place where newcomers are welcomed with open arms and diversity is embraced.
I shared a car with a young Liberian couple based in the UK who also came for the graduation party. They talked about their aspirations of moving to Canada one day and explained their reasoning—there’s a ton of land, it appears safe considering the low incidences of gun violence, acquiring a visa is feasible, and it has better opportunities.
That’s the rationale a lot of families like the one I met in Saskatchewan have when deciding to move to Canada. To state the obvious, it’s a human right to feel safe and welcomed as a newcomer. Canada has largely embraced newcomers and, for the most part, promoted human rights, and it’s manifested through the composition of the Canada national football team.
Canadian Diversity
Canada has a number of players at the World Cup that are foreign-born, including Johnathan David (born in the USA), Luc de Fougerolles (born in the UK), Owen Goodman (born in the UK), and Alfie Jones (born in the UK). In particular, three players representing Canada were born in Africa, including Tani Oluwaseyi (Nigeria), Ismaël Koné (Côte d’Ivoire), and Alphonso Davies (Ghana). Additionally, many of the players are second-generation immigrants (they were born in Canada to at least one non-Canadian parent). Ali Ahmed is a Toronto-born son of Ethiopian parents. Cyle Larin and Derek Cornelius have Caribbean roots representing Jamaica and Barbados. Promise David and Richie Laryea have parents hailing from West Africa—Nigeria and Ghana, respectively. Canada team captain Stephen Eustáquio has Portuguese parents and even represented the nation at the youth level before committing to Canada. That’s not all the global representation on the team, but to give an idea of the scope…it’s a lot.
Canada has 23 percent of its population made up of immigrants, and most of them come from India, Italy, Portugal, China, and the Philippines. Most of the African migrant population came from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal (Source: Government of Canada). Between 2016 and 2021, the 23 percent of the overall population being comprised by immigrants in Canada is the highest on record. Economic migration is the biggest driver for newcomers venturing over to Canada, and on average, a study visa currently takes 4-6 weeks to get reviewed. A work visa takes 8-12 weeks (both time estimates vary depending on the country the applicant is applying from). Back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when these players’ families were coming to Canada, I would assume the visa application review times were shorter than they are today. Newcomers found value in coming to Canada, and Canada played a role in welcoming their arrival.
Immigrants Making World Cup History
It wasn’t a win, but the players did very well to get the draw. Oluwaseyi threatened the goal several times. He got around tight spaces well and his mobility was an asset in generating chances. I believe anybody called Koné is going to always be combative, relentless, and positive with the ball. Similar to France’s Kouadio Koné (or for those that remember Côte d’Ivoire’s Bakari Koné), that’s how Ismaël Koné was in the midfield for Canada against Bosnia & Herzegovina. Ahmed’s introduction provided speed and incisive passes, supplying a necessary spark to the team in the second half as the host nation asserted its dominance in search of the equalizer. Promise David added another layer of height in the attack, but it was his layoff to Cyle Larin that assisted the crucial game-tying goal. Central defender Luc de Fougerolles did well in partnership with Cornelius, limiting the Bosnians to only one goal. The national team’s diverse composition of players provided game-changing contributions in the host nation’s opening World Cup match, earning Canada’s first-ever point in World Cup history.
Human Rights Promises by Canadian Host Cities
The World Cup’s only just begun, but ensuring a human rights legacy remains after the conclusion of the tournament is apparently paramount for FIFA. The Centre for Sport & Human Rights (CHSR), global law firm Clifford Chance, and FIFA collaborated in ensuring host cities list ways they’ll promote human rights. In a report issued by CHSR and Clifford Chance, they expressed their optimism in realizing a human rights legacy for the 2026 World Cup:
“For the first time, FIFA is considering human rights plans as part of its host city selection criteria. Putting human rights center stage will be seen as a game-changing development for the 2026 World Cup as the plans come to fruition.”
The onus is on the host cities to uphold the legacy, not FIFA. Canadian host cities, however, have made commitments. For instance, last year in Toronto, the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) and other local organizations successfully negotiated with City Council to approve a community benefits plan that will see $20 million in contracts awarded to Black, Indigenous, and diverse suppliers (Source: Toronto Community Benefits Network). The intent is to increase the number of diverse vendors by incentivizing them to apply for procurement opportunities. And in Vancouver, the City of Vancouver, along with the Province of British Columbia, Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and Musquem signed an MOU committing to ensure First Nations are positively impacted following the conclusion of the World Cup. This MOU also advances reconciliation efforts by including First Nations in the planning of major sporting events. See the different ways the host cities will be contributing to the human rights legacy here (Source: Government of BC). It’s a great assertion by Vancouver and Toronto, as it highlights Canada’s continued commitment to upholding the nation’s values of diversity.
Trudeau’s message of emphasizing diversity on Canada Day three years ago is still relevant. May it long continue!
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