A Letter to My Canada Football Family

When I moved to Canada with my mom at seven years old, it was for a better life. But let me tell you something … when you hear the phrase “a better life,” it’s probably an adult who’s saying it. As a kid, it’s hard to know what that means. I didn’t understand all the reasons why we’d come to Montréal, or why we had to leave our family in the Ivory Coast. Honestly, all I understood for sure was that it’s cold in winter and it’s different. So those first couple of years were hard for us. It was hard to feel like I’m at home.

The beautiful thing, though, is that it really just takes one moment right?? One moment to feel at home. And big surprise … mine came on a football pitch. I’ve loved football all my life, of course. My dad played professionally in the Ivory Coast, he introduced me to the game, and it was easy to fall in love from there. Then in Montréal, sometimes I would play with neighbours in those early years, but it’s not all the time. But one day I’m at the park, and some kids are talking about a football game that’s going on “like five minutes away.” So I follow them over, and it’s this youth community game, a police-supported team from our neighbourhood against another local team. And at first I just watch….. but then if you know me, you know if there’s a ball around I’m gonna want to play. So I walk up to the lady who looks like she’s in charge, and ask her if I can join in. And she’s like, “Ahhh, I’m sorry, you can’t. You need to be registered.” And I think I looked so sad hearing that, it’s like this lady could tell, you know, if this boy doesn’t get to play football soon he might cry. So when this other kid had to come off, she found an extra jersey, and let me play the rest of the game. Then after the game, she told me how I could have my mom register me so I’ll be in the league. And that was pretty much my start of playing organized football in Canada.

And it’s such a small moment, but I also think it’s a good example of what’s special to me about this country, and about football in this country. Canada, it’s so much about welcoming people in. It gave so much to me and my mom just by welcoming us. And I think it’s the same with football in Canada. Football isn’t the number one sport like hockey. It’s not generations of fans like with basketball or baseball. But it’s a lot about growing community, and building culture, by bringing people together from all these different backgrounds. And I feel like my story, where I could have gotten turned away, but instead this lady was like, just grab a jersey..... we’ll figure out the rest later, it’s a part of that.

And now it’s years later ... we’re co-hosting the World Cup ... and I feel like our whole team’s story is a part of that. Man!! We have guys coming from so many different backgrounds with this group. Alphonso from Ghana. Tani from Nigeria. Jonathan from Haiti. It keeps going. Even Jesse, coming to manage us from the States. And I love how people are getting to see this version of Canada represent on the world stage. Actually, I’ll rephrase that. I love how people are getting to see this version of Canada win on the world stage. We’re fast. We’re aggressive. We’re strong. We’re disciplined. But most of all we’re willing to do everything for this badge on our chest, I think because of the journey we each took to wear it … and because of what this country has given us in times when we’ve needed it most. It’s hard for me to put in words, but I hope you can tell. I’m so proud.

And I’ll be honest … it’s one of the first things that went through my head when I was lying there on the field in Vancouver, my leg snapped and broken. I’m just thinking….. Not NOW. You know what I’m saying?? Like, I wasn’t worried about myself. No one has to worry about me. I’ll do my rehab, then I’ll come back better than I ever was. That much I knew before they put me on the stretcher. But the thing I couldn’t stop thinking about, it’s how disappointed I was not to get to help our team on the field anymore, while we’re on this mission together. Where Canada football has been coming and coming and coming and now it’s here. That’s when this happens?? Up 3–0, BC Place rocking, we’re 40 minutes to our first ever World Cup win??? And now I’m hearing the entire stadium go quiet, 50,000 fans……..

Man…..

I just felt like I was letting the whole country down.

But then they were carrying me off — and it must have been magic. Because all the quiet in BC Place, suddenly it became warmth. And I swear it’s like for two full weeks that warmth has been carrying me. I felt it when they were driving me to the hospital, and one of the physios is riding along giving me game updates. (Picture him shouting, “Nathan on a free kick!! 4–0!! Jonathan for his hat-trick!! 6–0!!” And I’m like, “Oh yeah, that’s good to hear.” But also I’m heavily medicated.) I felt it when I’m about to go into emergency surgery … and I’m always such a football player, you know, I have to get the surgeons in a huddle and give them a dressing room speech. I’m like, “Hey guys this is all I have. I’ve worked my whole life to be a footballer, and I need to get back out there for this team. So let’s have an amazing surgery. Operate like I’m your brother or son.”

And then I felt it when I got out of surgery … and it was just this outpouring of support. From my family and friends, of course. From my teammates and coaches, of course. But the amount of messages I’m receiving just from people all across Canada, who are behind this team so they’re behind me, and wanting to make sure I’m OK … or the things I’m hearing now in person, when fans are seeing me on crutches at the games … obviously I knew there’d be support, but the level has kind of shocked me a bit. It’s moved me very deeply. And it’s made me feel like I’m a small part of something very special that’s happening right now.

So that’s why I wanted to write this letter. Not only to say thank you to everyone who’s had these supportive words for me, or kind thoughts. But even more than that I wanted to say thank you to everyone who’s believed in Canada football. Whether you’ve believed since the first World Cup appearance 40 years ago … or since the women’s team won Gold in 2021 … or maybe only since Stephen scored in stoppage time last weekend. It doesn’t matter since when. If you believe NOW, then you’re a part of this thing. And if you still don’t believe yet?? OK, well, tune in on Saturday. Big game for us, and I know my brothers are ready. Everyone is welcome — just grab a jersey.

We’ll figure out the rest later.

—Ismaël