Ever since the FIFA World Cup started, a corner of the Yonge Sheppard Centre, across from the food court and in front of the shoe repair shop, has transformed into a communal living room of sorts. 

It’s one of the few free places in Willowdale where fans of soccer – or football, as the beautiful game is also known – have been able to come together to watch matches together, starting from the group stages, to the knockout rounds, and now leading into the semi-finals.

They have cheered for fancy footwork, booed for foul plays, stood up in disbelief when a goal has sneaked past the defenders and goalkeeper, yelled at referees for making questionable calls or at players for squandering yet another chance to take possession of the ball, and sat coiled up with tension at penalty shootouts. 

Across Toronto, viewing parties for the World Cup are taking place at a range of locations, but Willowdalians have had to head elsewhere for many of these events. There’s the official FIFA Fan Fest at Fort York and The Bentway, where fans have been watching live match broadcasts, taking in live entertainment, football related activities and challenges, as well as trying out food options available at a line of food trucks. Other popular hotspots include Nathan Phillps Square, which broadcast select matches – and will showcase the semi-final, bronze final and the championship final on July 19. Then there are popular hotspots across the city, pubs and sports bars where football fans go regularly to watch a football game, even when the World Cup isn’t on.

Back at the Yonge and Sheppard Centre, decade-long friends Stephen Vogt and Ramy Zakhari, came to watch the match between Norway and Brazil that took place on July 5. The duo had been watching the games at various spots in the city. Zakhari made the trip downtown to watch a few games at Nathan Phillips Square and STACKT Market, while Vogt watched some matches at pubs such as The Frog and Firkin and St. Louis Bar & Grill. 

However, both marvelled at the opportunity to watch the World Cup matches in their own backyard. Despite the relatively small TV screen, the Yonge Sheppard Centre World Viewing Lounge has been popular with many locals like Vogt and Zakhari to watch the matches and highlights throughout the tournament. 

The football friends happened to come across the screenings by accident. Vogt, who has been living in the neighbourhood for close to 25 years, noticed the TV screen and empty seats one day while walking through the mall, and guessed that the spot might have a watch party. Zakhari, who lives in an adjacent building, noticed the game being screened as he was walking through the building one day. A Willowdale resident for more than 15 years, he walks through the Yonge and Sheppard Centre on a daily basis.

“There were no ads, no promotions,” says Vogt. “But this is so great because it brings the community together. So we’ve been coming here quite often.”

“We were a little disappointed the other day, when Canada played their last game. We were seated right here, and the crowd, for some reason, was very quiet,” adds Vogt. And when Zakhari tried to lead the crowd in a chant, some locals were cautious about making too much noise in the space.

“And I was like, with all due respect, Canada has not made it this far in the World Cup. Ever. This was history making,” says Zakhari.

The duo was disappointed that more matches were not screened at Mel Lastman Square with a large screen. They were unaware of the football related events that had taken place at the local gathering space that is buzzing with festivals throughout the summer. 

The few World Cup-related events at Mel Lastman Square had included screening the Canada versus Qatar match on June 18 and Germany versus Ivory Coast on June 20. The latter watch party was part of a day-long celebration at the square organized in association with the Yonge North York BIA, which included football themed activities and an outdoor screening of Bend It Like Beckham. A planned viewing party for South Korea’s match against Mexico on June 18 was cancelled due to inclement weather, scattering fans sporting the green and purple jerseys to nearby restaurants and pubs showing the game.

As the crowds streamed out of Memorial Hall at North York Centre after watching Canada trounce Qatar 6-0, the excitement was palpable. Local councillor Lily Cheng stood by the door taking photos with residents, who stopped to thank her for the opportunity to watch the game. Cheng, who had been present for all the football festivities, remarked about the difficulties to get funding for more community gathering events during the World Cup. 

“This is such a wonderful opportunity for people to come together. Even if you are not really a soccer fan,” she said, expressing her frustration at her inability to secure monies from City Hall to organize more similar events. 

“Just renting space can be so expensive, to accommodate everyone,” Cheng said.