![Strong support for Team Canada as fans gather to cheer on the players in their opening World Cup match](https://www.ctvnews.ca/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/7/20/bev-priestman-1-6487920-1689887014237.jpg)
Strong support for Team Canada as fans gather to cheer on the players in their opening World Cup match
CTV
As Team Canada heads into its opening match at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Canadians are there to offer their support and cheer on the players.
Perched on the banks of Melbourne's winding Yarra River is a place called the Wharf.
The waterfront pub is typically teeming with local patrons. But as Team Canada heads into its opening match at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the pub is filled with Canadians.
At one table, Sheri Ainslie is fully decked out in red and white, including a number 12 jersey as a nod to soccer superstar Christine Sinclair.
"We are here to honour these women and to be the biggest and loudest fans," said Ainslie.
Along with her family, she travelled all the way from Ontario to cheer on the players in their first game against Nigeria.
"I played soccer growing up and I love the sport," she said. "The level of play from this team is amazing, they really have something special."
Susan Cotton, Ainslie's mother, also made the long journey to Australia to support the team. When asked why she loves the sport of soccer, she broke out into a big grin and replied, "I just love everything. Yes, everything about it."