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Soccer may be experiencing unprecedented growth in Canada and the United States, yet that doesn't necessarily mean every fan sporting a jersey has a deep knowledge of the team they're supporting.
On Saturday, supporters filled BC Place in Vancouver for Australia's 2-0 defeat to Türkiye, with a large number predictably dressed in Canadian colors.
The previous day, Canada had played to a 1–1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina to earn their first point at the men's World Cup in Toronto, before the squad embarked on a five-hour flight to the west coast, where their next two fixtures are scheduled.
Moments before the world watched us.#CANMNT pic.twitter.com/U3R6VWlUbg
After receiving a warm welcome upon arrival, several Canadian stars headed to BC Place for the match, among them Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Ismaël Koné and Ali Ahmed. Davies and Ahmed had a particular connection to the venue, having launched their professional careers with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Davies, the team's standout player and a regular contributor for Champions League stalwarts and German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, wore a black T-shirt, baseball cap and glasses as he joined fans walking toward the stadium. On his public Snapchat story, he shared a video of someone wearing his jersey, before approaching a fan in the stadium wearing the same shirt and complimenting their choice.
Unfortunately for the supporter, they appeared completely unaware that Davies himself was standing right in front of them, smiling awkwardly as he continued through the stadium concourse. The Bayern Munich star wasn't the only one to go unrecognized, as both David and Koné were also spotted moving through the crowds largely without drawing attention.
Ce supporter canadien porte le maillot d'Alphonso Davies 🇨🇦 mais NE SAIT VISIBLEMENT PAS à quoi il ressemble. 😭😭
📲 Snapchat pic.twitter.com/INFWIrm6jm
Canada returned to the training pitch on Saturday for a closed media session and will ramp up their preparations for Thursday's match against Qatar on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Although Davies has been part of the Canadian squad throughout the World Cup, he sat out the opening match as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in May. He did participate in sprints alongside his teammates ahead of the game, however, and could be available for Thursday's encounter with Qatar.
Why Aren't Stars Recognized?
Davies and his fellow stars may be in the public eye right now, but few Canadian athletes outside of NHL players and the MLB's Toronto Blue Jays are widely recognized on the street. The same trend has emerged in the U.S., where high-profile names like Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal and others have been able to enjoy a degree of anonymity while running everyday errands — something that would be virtually impossible in many other parts of the world.
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Many fans who have recently jumped on the World Cup bandwagon haven't yet familiarized themselves with players' faces, particularly when they're out of their kits.
Canadian forward Promise David, who played a key role in setting up Cyle Larin's goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina, told Sports Illustrated ahead of the World Cup that he was hoping to visit McDonald's after the game. If he did manage to satisfy that craving, it's safe to say no crowd of autograph seekers would have interrupted his meal.