The most chaotic moments from Canada’s opening ceremony: from empty seats to fury at BBC
Canada’s World Cup opening ceremony brought the glitz and glamour, but also snaps of rows and rows of empty seats posed more problems for a much criticised FIFA
Canadian Michael Bublé was the star of the show (Image: Getty Images)
The second of three opening ceremonies at this bumper sized World Cup brought with it much of the glitz and glamour, but also the chaos that we are coming to expect from this edition of the tournament.
Canada’s turn to show the world what they are about saw the likes of Alanis Morisette and Michael Bublé take to the Toronto Stadium stage, although it wasn’t just the on-field entertainment that got people talking.
Much of the conversation was about fan antics outside the ground, with both Bosnia and Canada supporters bringing the noise, and the flares, as they marched to the ground. Here in the UK, many viewers also raised their concerns that the BBC made the ceremony almost impossible to watch either on their website or on the TV, with BBC 1 mainly focussing on studio punditry and not the live event.
So if you missed it, here are five stand out moments from the proceedings.
BBC snub
Much of the chat during the opening ceremony was, unfortunately, relating to people in the UK being unable to watch it.
Despite saying that the show would be accessible on BBC Sport and IPlayer from 6:30pm, many Brits described an almost impossible process of finding the link, and those that did had no commentary or graphics to help clear up who was who and what was what.
To make matters worse, when the official coverage did begin, the Beeb opted for in studio punditry instead of showing the ceremony take place, much to the ire of many on social media.
One user wrote: “ten mins to kickoff, opening ceremony at the world cup and the BBC are… talking over it and cutting away?”,
Another said: “Anyone know how we can watch the Canada World Cup opening ceremony in the UK? BBC coverage doesn’t appear to start until 7pm and it starts at 6:30pm”, before adding: “I would have quite liked to watch Michael Bublé at the Canada World Cup Opening Ceremony, BBC…!”
Giant Animals
For those that did manage to tune in, much of the conversation related to the giant animal puppets used in the ceremony.
A huge moose, polar bears, and even an impressive whale were carried around the stadium, with users online describing the scene as “powerful” and “beautiful”.
The display, according to reports, was designed to offer a welcome from Canada’s Indigenous Nations “on the world stage.”
Empty Seats
It wasn’t just in the UK where people seemed unable to watch the ceremony, with people in Canada seemingly also unable or unwilling to make it into the ground in time for the opening.
Rows of empty seats could be seen around the stadium for much of the event, images likely to haunt Giannis Infantino and FIFA who are already battling with criticism over ticket prices and local fan disinterest.
The issues follow similar scenes at South Korea vs Czechia, which saw thousands of empty seats around the ground.
One user wrote: “Empty seats at a home game for a host nation. Fair play FIFA. Everyone said it was impossible to ruin the World Cup, but you’ve managed it. Respect.”
Crazy fans
While the ceremony clearly wasn’t top of the agenda for some fans, nobody could knock the passion of the Bosnia and Canada fans going to the game, with crazy footage emerging of both supporters’ pre-match antics.
Flares could be seen blowing smoke across the streets Toronto streets, while fans banged drums and chanting for hours on their way to the match.
One user wrote of the travelling Bosnia fans: “That’s a seriously impressive number of fans. Warms your heart.”
Another commented on Canada’s supporters: “Never seen the like, incredible.”
The Music
Much of the chat after the ceremony was about the two Canadian heavyweights who performed: Alanis Morisette and Michael Bublé.
Bublé, 50, stood in the centre circle to perform his 2022 track Bring It On Home To Me, while Morissette appeared just before kick off to perform the Canadian national anthem.
Both were met with raucous response from the home crowd, with users online congratulating their performances as “very good”.
One fan joked: “Alanis Morisette is looking well. If Canada lost today, wouldn’t it be ironic.”
The Toronto crowd also saw performances from fellow Canadians Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez and country singer William Prince.
