Chris Jones is currently in Bucharest with Canada’s national men’s soccer team as they gear up for the upcoming FIFA World Cup next year.
Devotion can be shown in various ways, and for the Voyageurs, the most passionate supporters of Canadian soccer, it often involves traveling long distances. In Bucharest on Friday night, their dedication was evident in their fearlessness.
Approximately 30 Voyageurs arrived early at the National Arena to cheer on Canada against Romania in a friendly match. They occupied a section in the upper stands, surrounded by neon green stewards and black-clad security personnel.
In Europe, where football violence has a long history, away fans are typically segregated from the home crowd. This separation was particularly noticeable on Friday due to the small Canadian presence amidst thousands of empty seats, creating a somewhat theatrical atmosphere reminiscent of hooliganism.
WATCH | Canada secures a 3-0 victory in Europe for the first time since 2011:
Canada defeats Romania 3-0, with Ali Ahmed scoring his first international goal, alongside goals from Jonathan David and Niko Sigur in Bucharest.
The gap between the Canadian fans and the 25,000-strong Romanian crowd felt wider after Canada scored in the 11th and 22nd minutes, ultimately securing a dominant 3-0 victory, their first win in Europe since 2011.
Alex Ho, a 56-year-old Canadian fan, traveled from Ottawa to Bucharest via Paris. In his decades of supporting the team since 1984, he found Romania to be a more exotic destination compared to the more intense atmospheres in Mexico and Honduras.
“This experience ranks high on my list,” Ho remarked.
The Voyageurs were provided a special ticket code, which they shared with non-members to ensure all Canadians could sit together at the match. As kickoff approached, solo fans began gravitating towards the group for added solidarity, while some from the friends and family section below also joined the Canadian contingent.
Prior to the game, during a gathering at a local bar in Bucharest, the Voyageurs encountered Romania’s feared Ultras, known for their intimidating presence in black attire resembling police uniforms. Tensions briefly rose before the Ultras moved on.
