Gauging how the threat of a trade war has affected the Canadian pro sports landscape
Tuesday Jan. 28 marked 500 days ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. Toronto and Vancouver are host cities of the mega-event in which Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are the throuple-hosting the biggest soccer tournament in the world.
When U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to put a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods, a wave of indignance swept through the country.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's response was to impose taxes on U.S. goods. In a meeting on Monday afternoon, Trump agreed to hold the the tariffs for 30 days but the sentiment remains.
The memes began but so did the swift response.
Across social media, people began sharing lists of Canadian-only products to buy, ultimately boycotting U.S. goods. There was information sharing in the form of satire and all over my social media feeds.
But what about sports? How does this impact the world of sports? Did it simply galvanize a sense of nationalism?
The sport world is now interrogating how the mega-event 2026 FIFA World Cup will be managed with the current economic freeze and political instability between the countries.
It's become more than friendly competition.
WATCH | Fans in Ottawa boo American anthem before Sens-Wild game:
Canadian hockey fans boo U.S. anthem during Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild game
Fans booed at an Ottawa Senators game on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild, and then at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday at a Toronto Raptors game.
One attendee told me that players on the L.A. Clippers looked surprised and slightly confused. A source told me that the 15 year-old anthem singer was prepared and advised to expect some crowd reactions. Although her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner was boo-ed, O Canada was met with exuberance.