Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed Canada’s soccer team after its first 6-0 win against Qatar on Thursday.
Thousands at Vancouver’s BC Place cheered on the home team as forward Jonathan David recorded a hat trick – the first by a CONCACAF player at the World Cup in nearly 100 years.
But the victory was overshadowed by midfielder Ismaël Koné’s injury that resulted in him being sent to hospital.
After the game, Carney greeted the team in the locker room following the historic win, praising players for their sportsmanship and performance.
Here’s the full transcript of his speech:
“Let me just begin by acknowledging what you’re all feeling, I think, and the nation’s feeling, the terrible injury of Ismaël ... and it’s in moments like that, that you see character in a real team.
He applauds the fans coming off, he shakes the hands of the Qataris coming off. [Nathan] Saliba comes on, steps up, scores.
You hold up his jersey and you celebrate around that, you keep your cool, you show the nation like you didn’t just break the CONCACAF record, and a bunch of records, and 32 attempts on goal, 10 hit the goal, 19 corners, one corner dominates, 70-plus percentage, like just show that level.
But you showed a level of character that some people never achieve in their life, and you showed it when the entire country and a good part of the world is watching. And if they didn’t watch, they will have watched by tomorrow, watched the highlights by tomorrow.
I’ll just say I couldn’t be prouder as a Canadian. And on behalf of all Canadians, I just want to thank you for everything you put in to get here.
You represent the nation, represent your families, your friends, and teach a lesson.
I’ll say one other thing, if I may. Couple of weeks ago, Adam and I – Adam van Koeverden, our minister of sport, our FIFA Sherpa – we’re in Brampton, Brampton, Ontario.
Some of you know it well, right? Our first two goals were scored by Cyle [Larin] out of Brampton, right? [Jonathan] Osorio out of Brampton. I can go on.
We went to Brampton because of your example, and because we’re building a new sports complex, and to be honest, we’re not building a new sports complex for this level. It’s Brampton, so a couple of people rise to this level. But we’re building it for thousands and thousands of kids – girls, boys – to play football to aspire to be like you.
And the one thing I hope they take is a lesson you showed today in the response. I couldn’t be prouder. Thank you for letting me in. And just share a bit of that moment, and guys, go all the way.”
