JULY 3, 2026
World Cup Masterpiece
Last night’s thriller between Portugal and Croatia was soccer at its most glorious: breathtaking skill, high drama, iconic stars, raw emotion and a storybook setting. It all unfolded at Toronto Stadium, the hastily renovated venue that was widely mocked before the tournament but looked every bit the part under the lights; Portugal’s coach Roberto Martínez even said it reminded him of the old-school English stadiums. The stands pulsed with colour and noise as Canada’s Portuguese and Croatian communities turned out in force, filling the stadium with deafening chants after hours of pre-match parades through the city. Plus, there was the epic subplot: two of soccer’s greatest – Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modrić, 40 – sharing the field in what is expected to be their international farewell. Ronaldo, who was serenaded by swarms of fans at his hotel before and after the game, silenced critics who said he was too old by coolly burying a penalty – his first-ever knockout-round goal – and inspiring his team to a 2-1 victory. When the final whistle blew, the two legends fittingly embraced at midfield. “It was an incredible, incredible spectacle,” Martínez effused. We now know why they call it the beautiful game.
JULY 2, 2026
Homecoming
On the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump chose not to renew the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade deal, another high-profile American announced that he would be taking his talents north of the border. Kawhi Leonard, the all-star power forward who was instrumental in leading the Toronto Raptors to the NBA championship in 2019, has signed a two-year contract worth US$126 million. The bold move instantly makes the Raps a championship contender – providing that the future hall-of-famer can coax a few more elite seasons out of his rapidly aging 35-year-old legs. More importantly, the team must sort out legal problems stemming from an ongoing NBA investigation into alleged payments the player received from his former team, the L.A. Clippers, that skirted the league’s salary cap rules. But with memories still fresh from Kawhi’s legendary playoff run – including his iconic buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers and his Finals MVP performance – the Raptors feel that to contend in a league driven by big-names, you need an alpha star. That’s why signing Kawhi is well worth the risk. Cue up those Drake beats.
JUNE 29, 2026
Heroes Abound
“You are Canadian heroes,” shouted men’s soccer coach Jesse Marsch to his players in the team victory huddle on the pitch in L.A. Their dramatic 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday advances them to the round of 16 where they will face the winner of the Morocco-Netherlands game. The biggest hero, of course, was Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustáquio, who sent fans across the country into a frenzy with his dramatic game-winner two minutes into stoppage time. Winger Alphonso Davies also played the role of supporting hero. Sidelined for most of the tournament with a hamstring injury, the star winger was subbed in at the 75-minute mark and completely changed the tempo and energy of the game. With his trademark speed and unmatched skill, Davies repeatedly punched holes through South Africa’s defensive-minded formation, a surge that ultimately led to Eustáquio’s winner. And, finally, injured midfielder Ismaël Koné became a viral hero: video of his hilarious post-game victory dance (on a broken leg!) was all over social media, cementing his legacy as the team’s emotional leader and reminding us all about the pure moments of unfettered joy that sports is capable of producing.
