Rick Rolleman

This has been weighing heavily on me, and I can’t stay quiet about it any longer. I am 71 years old. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend five World Cups, starting in 1986. Those tournaments weren’t just events to me, they were life chapters. They were about connection, about culture, about standing shoulder to shoulder with people from every corner of the world, united by the game we love. But what I’m seeing now breaks my heart. The current dynamic pricing strategy for the upcoming World Cup feels completely detached from the very soul of football. Yes, this tournament is being played mostly in the United States, and yes, it’s a premium market. But football was never meant to be a luxury product reserved for the highest bidder. It belongs to the people. Always has. I looked back fondly at USA 94 and everything we did then to fill stadiums and bring the game to life for Americans who were just dipping their toes into the water of the beautiful game. Right now, it feels like the average, passionate supporter, the ones who save for years, who travel across continents, who bring the color, the noise, the spirit, are being pushed out. Replaced by a model that prioritizes revenue over reality. That’s a dangerous road because once you lose the authentic fan, you lose the essence of what makes the World Cup special. I say this not just as a fan, but as someone who has spent a lifetime in and around the game. During my time at EA SPORTS, we stood shoulder to shoulder with FIFA when they needed it most. Our game kept millions of fans connected to football and to the World Cup when trust in the organization was at its lowest. We helped carry the flame. Which is why this moment feels even more disappointing. This may well be one of the last World Cups I have the chance to attend and I find myself wondering if the game I’ve loved all my life is slowly drifting away from people like me, and far more importantly, from the next generation who deserve to feel what I felt in 1986. The World Cup should unite the world. Not divide it by price. Football deserves better. And so do the fans. Come on @FIFAcom , sort this out… It’s not too late.

Mark Carney is seizing a costly Liberal majority that voters denied him, and doing so through backroom deals. In January, MP Gladu said that floor crossers should face voters in a byelection to give voters the final say. I could not agree more. She should do so. The people in her community voted for our Conservative vision of a Canada that is affordable, safe, and strong at home, not for the costly Liberal government she has now joined. She should honour her word and let voters decide.

The Liberal finance minister claims he recused himself in September 2025 of the $90 billion Alto project, for which his wife is the vice president. Yet here he is promoting the project in Senate testimony 6 months later. And here he is voting for it in the House of Commons. There it is in the budget he presented. And there is no recusal record on the Ethics Commissioner’s website. Nothing adds up. $90 billion is at stake. Tell the truth, Minister.

@The3rdSub Tate's been crushing it. He's efficient and effective. Because he's not quick or tall he gets dismissed. Crazy. If he can get 10% faster, lock him in for a5 year contract.

Grades are in. Yohei Takaoka and Edier Ocampo starred early, Tate Johnson impressed at fullback, and Sebastian Berhalter sealed the dramatic 3-2 comeback with a stoppage-time strike. We break it down in the latest Report Card. #VWFC thethirdsub.ca/2026/04/06/rep…

"The Carney government announced the Grays Bay project in Nunavut, a road to the Izok Lake mine. But who owns that mine? The Chinese government. 750 million of your taxes will go toward building the infrastructure that allows a Chinese state-owned company to extract our Canadian Arctic's strategic resources. Canadians pay for the road. China takes the ore."

@TonyBorean @dundatt1989 @nhlspotlight @_TJR88 I've gone to Canuck games most of my life. In the last 15 years there is no "organic" atmosphere. It's managed by the video board prompts.

@dundatt1989 @nhlspotlight @_TJR88 Hockey is a different sport. I have been to sporting events all over the world, and Playoff Canuck hockey is near the top in terms of atmosphere. Only UCL at San Siro (Barca-Inter) and San Mames (Atletic-Man United) are above it in terms of real organic atmosphere.

And people still say....."yea I'd still rather go to a canucks game" #VWFC

@TonyBorean @nhlspotlight @_TJR88 You're cracked. No authenticity??? What is that supposed to mean?

@nhlspotlight @_TJR88 The Whitecaps. There is no authenticity to their supporters.

@aftncanada Tate was so good. His decision making was on point

Report and Reaction: Whitecaps come back from the dead to stun Timbers in Easter miracle Our #VANvPOR match recap and postgame reaction from both locker rooms. aftn.ca/report-and-rea… #VWFC #MLS

@The3rdSub Tate was fantastic tonight. Smart beyond his years

FT Thoughts: -An instant classic comeback win! -Not perfect for Vancouver, but still dominant outside a small phase at the end of the first half. -Cubas was missed for sure, Laborda clearly better out wide. -Caicedo great off the bench, Seba with the moment at the end. #VWFC

@Can20998Canada @ndurec Müller was too invisible for much of the game

@ndurec I was at the game , Muller was good. He has no legs , but he ran the game . In the first half our wide players sucked .

FT Thoughts: - I want more of Caicedo - Müller...heavy touches, second to balls, just penalties...been a rough start to 2026 - #VWFC will miss Berhalter after the World Cup 😢 - 'Caps didn't take the numerous chances offered to them. Too much looking for the "perfect" opportunity

@DailyHiveVan Do not use "respect" and "Tortorella" in the same sentence unless it's connected with "rarely gives any to anyone."

Ex-#Canucks coach Tortorella back in the NHL after surprise firing dailyhive.com/vancouver/ex-c…

@CANSoccerDaily Booo! Loved her with the Rise

One day after Jordyn Huitema left the Seattle Reign, they have added another B.C. native to their roster. #CanWNT forward Holly Ward is the latest Canadian to move to the #NWSL, joining the Reign from the #NSL's Vancouver Rise for an undisclosed fee 📈 canadiansoccerdaily.com/2026/03/13/can…

@RiseHigherCa @Canucks_Abroad Should only be in a Vancouver uniform 😞

Holly Ward starts for Seattle! #CanWNT/#CanXNT

@BangingTags @onesoccer Priso has wheels too. He should've started.

@onesoccer That's the kind of play where you need a Phonsy or an Adekugbe to get back for the tackle. These are the cusp guys on D and the pace hasn't been there this game.

GOAL🇮🇸🇮🇸 Orri Óskarsson has his brace, as he carves through the #CanMNT backline and fires one home to put Iceland up 2-0 early at BMO Field 🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer and TSN

@CANMNT_Official @AlexGangueRuzic @GE_Appliances Time to move on from Larin. This is the window to get other guys up to speed. Larin and David together hasn't worked

Our XI, presented by @GE_Appliances 🍁 Dayne is in goal 🍁 JD wears the armband 🍁 Cyle leads the line —— Notre XI, présenté par @GE_Appliances 🍁 Dayne débute dans le but 🍁 JD porte le brassard 🍁 Cyle est devant

A damning Auditor General’s report shows these three Liberal ministers allowed 150,000 cases of suspected immigration fraud to go uninvestigated. Then Carney promoted them. And they remain in his Liberal cabinet. Mr. Prime Minister, do your job. Fire them. Now.

In letter to Canada PM Carney, Tory leader Poilievre urges the immediate resignation of 2 ex-immigration ministers and the current immigration minister due to "screw ups" on foreign-student file. Poilievre cities critical news report from CBC to back up his call:

@CapsCoverage @The3rdSub Nelson has 0g 0a so far this year. He has, however, earned himself a yellow card 🤷‍♂️

@The3rdSub If only Ahmed was sold beforehand so Nelson coulda stayed man 😔

This feels like a match where Vancouver would be cooking San Jose if they had someone like Nelson or Ahmed to be direct in those 1v1 moments. Everyone on this team wants to cut inside. #VWFC

@rob_bristow_CA @The3rdSub Jeevan is more than blossoming right now. He's crushing it. Kenji, however, needs to take a step forward.

@The3rdSub Some new players, it will take a bit for them to fit in. Also need time for Kenji and Jeevan to blossom, and a few of the injured guys to get back in.

Last year, even when the Whitecaps were playing from behind, they felt inevitable. It was only a matter of time before the game was theirs. The team is still very good, but hasn’t been the same vibe so far in 2026. #VWFC

@Eease11 @The3rdSub Nelson dribbled himself into a phone booth so the time. We were lucky to get something for him.

@The3rdSub Vancouver Whitecaps were stupid to let both players go in one year… They should at least have kept Jayden Nelson