Toronto soccer fans hopeful for Canada-Italy World Cup match up

The draw for next summer's World Cup has opened the possibility that Canada will face Italy in its June 12 opener in Toronto, and hopes in the city’s Little Italy neighbourhood are running high. 

The Canadian men’s soccer team drew Switzerland, the fifth-ranked team in Pot 2, and Qatar, the 10th-ranked side in Pot 3. A still-to-be-determined European opponent from Pot 4 could be Italy, which has yet to qualify for the tournament. 

“I literally have butterflies in my stomach,” said Rocco Mastrangelo, co-owner of Cafe Diplomatico, which is known for its pizzas, pastas and soccer watch parties on College Street, in the heart of Little Italy. 

“Right now I'm sure that all the Italians in Toronto have gone to the church and lit a candle and are praying that we qualify,” Mastrangelo said after Friday's draw.

The 12th-ranked Italians are taking part in a European playoff in March along with No. 32 Wales, No. 69 Northern Ireland and No. 71 Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ultimate winner of that group will play Canada on June 12 at Toronto's BMO Field.

How the FIFA World Cup draw played out for Canada

Mastrangelo said a Canada-Italy matchup would be "electric" for the city and the large Italian Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area.

"People are just gonna prepare to have viewing parties ... barbecues and such, or try to get tickets to BMO Field, which I don't even know if it's even possible or what the cost is," he said, noting that the game would coincide with the start of the popular Taste of Little Italy street festival. 

"Even thinking about the possibility ... is just an amazing feeling," he said.

Jordan Nunes, who works just down the street at Danny's Pizza Tavern, said he's "very, very excited" about the prospect of