Hundreds of soccer fans clad in red and white - blankets, chairs, snacks and friends in tow - descended on the University of Toronto Friday to cheer on Canada as it took on Bosnia and Herzegovina on global soccer's biggest stage.
The tense group-stage match, broadcast on a giant, 34-foot outdoor screen erected on U of T's 's picturesque Front Campus, resulted in a history-making draw for Canada and giddy soccer fans across the country.
It was one of three group-stage matches that will be broadcast for the U of T community during the marquee international tournament, which is being held in North American cities, including Toronto, this year.
As the game at nearby "Toronto Stadium" got underway, the crowd grew in size until it spilled across the lawn.
Nearby, U of T's spring convocation ceremonies were in full swing inside and outside of Convocation Hall - with more than a few graduates and their families making a detour to catch a glimpse of the action between graduation-day photos.
The watch party kicked off with U of T President Melanie Woodin welcoming the community to cheer on Canada and their favourite teams.
"I'm so thrilled that you're all out here to join us this afternoon," she said. "What a fabulous day to come out and cheer for Team Canada or whoever you're cheering for - we're inclusive here."
The atmosphere briefly turned sour when Bosnia and Herzegovina scored the opening goal in the first half of the match.
But the mood changed abruptly when Canada's Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute, securing a 1-1 draw and helping "Les Rouges" avoid a defeat for the first time in the global tournament, which engages billions of fans around the world.
Alexandra Milia, a first-year Rotman Commerce student, came to the watch party with two friends. A lifelong soccer fan, she traces her love for the game back to her earliest years.
"My family is Spanish so it's been always a core part of my life ever since I was little," she said.
Milia drew a parallel to the Blue Jays World Series watch parties U of T hosted last fall , describing both events as unique moments of shared excitement on campus.
"It's nice to have something we can all come together for and build that school spirit regardless of our academics."
Nour Hanafi, who is completing her PhD in computational genomics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, tried to buy tickets to some of the Toronto-hosted games, but said prices were out of reach. So, when she heard about the watch party on campus, she organized an outing for her lab.
"It's a sense of community. It's really fun having a team that you invest in with other people, and you share the highs and lows," Hanafi said.
Labmate Sean D'Mello, who is working on a master's degree in medical biophysics, said he, too, joined the outing to soak in the atmosphere - and for the love of the game itself.
During halftime, Kushal Chaturvedi, a third-year electrical engineering student, kicked around a soccer ball on the grass with some friends. He said he was there to support Canada and plans to attend the next two scheduled watch parties on Front Campus.
The two matches, both being played in Vancouver, are: Canada vs. Qatar on June 18 at 6 p.m. and Canada vs. Switzerland on June 24 at 3 p.m. (all times eastern).
Mahsa Lashgari and Mahsa Zokaee met at U of T after both arriving from Iran to pursue PhDs in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.
The pair said they're looking forward to cheering on both Canada and Iran in their respective games at the tournament.
"We are from a country where soccer is so famous and we are so happy that this year the World Cup is in Canada," Lashgari said.
Lashgari added that community events like the U of T watch parties hold particular meaning for international students like themselves who are far from home.
"It's an opportunity for us to experience it up close."
