With relations icy, many Canadians lament hosting World Cup with US

TORONTO, June 18 : Clad in Canada gear with a red cowboy hat and a maple leaf painted on her face, Catherine Paternal was ready to celebrate Canada's national soccer team. But she is in no mood to be co-hosting Canada's first World Cup with its southern neighbor.

U.S. President Donald Trump in recent weeks has renewed threats to make Canada the 51st U.S. state, and said he might not renew the trilateral trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico — the co-hosts of this year's World Cup.   

"The World Cup is about bringing countries together. I don't feel like the U.S. is a good example of bringing people together right now," said Paternal, a 44-year-old from Mississauga, a city neighboring Toronto.

The U.S. president has also imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles from Canada, accused Ottawa of taking advantage of the U.S., and on many occasions referred to Prime Minister Mark Carney as "governor." Canadians for over a year have boycotted U.S. products and canceled trips south of the border.

Most Canadians Reuters spoke to said they were not willing to put their feelings aside during the World Cup. 

"Absolutely not," 68-year-old Linda Anson said bluntly in Toronto, when asked if she would make the trip to catch games in the United States. She highlighted Trump's remarks about Canada as the main reason and said she would have preferred the World Cup to be hosted exclusively in Canada and Mexico.

"We are a sovereign nation," her husband Bruce added.

Canada fan Liam Delaney went straight to the Toronto Stadium from work to catch a glimpse of his team playing against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup opener on Friday. He did not mince his words in regard to the U.S. president.

"I think he is ruining the