There is a town in Saskatchewan called Biggar. Its slogan: "New York is big, but this is Biggar."

What Canada's Men's National Team is doing on the global stage is bigger.

I felt that joy added an extra impetus to our July 1^st celebrations in every town and city from coast to coast to coast. Our football team has captivated fans.

Hosting the World Cup is a big deal. Canada winning its first point ever, then its first game, then making the top 32 teams were very big. Then the magnificent goal in the 92^nd minute of the Vancouver game when Stephen Eustaquio drilled it home.

Suddenly, Canada is into the round of 16. The Netherlands, Germany, Japan and some other power football nations are not.

TSN, which has done quality coverage of the tournament, had its audience for the knock-out game peak at something over 11 million on all its platforms. That's every fourth Canadian. The ratings for the game tomorrow will be fascinating.

For those of us who couldn't afford a ticket, the watch parties and fan zones in cities have been thriving. The welcome addition of our guests from around the world has threatened the beer supply in several bars. Fun.

Canadians like celebrating. We like a good party. Millions came out to sing O Canada on Wednesday, eat red and white-iced cake, watch some fireworks and have a good time. The celebration this year was even more animated because of the CANMNT. Coach Jesse Marsch after the win against South Africa called the players "Canadian heroes". Good for him.

We should be proud.

The US and global media were all over Canada for its knockout win. The fact that it was the only game on the tube meant we had the world's attention last Sunday. Truth be told, the first 90 minutes of the game were not exemplary but the last 5 minutes were a roller coaster of emotion and excitement. Canada earned a tremendous amount of global exposure and instant supporters from that game.

At our July 1 parties, kids were kicking soccer balls all over the fields. Older gentlemen with paunches tried to relive some youth on the pitch. Women and girls were playing. It was fun. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Tomorrow, Canada takes on Morocco in Houston. It will be a very tough match. Morocco is much higher ranked. Canada will be fighting for possession and quality finishing around the Moroccan goal. The players will be ready and will be valiant. They will have millions of Canadian fans supporting them.

The winner of that game goes into the FIFA World Cup quarter finals.

So in Biggar, Saskatchewan, Shawinigan, PQ, Summerside PEI, Nanaimo BC, Inuvik, NWT, and all the other towns and cities that make up this great nation, we will celebrate as we did on July 1, this time for the heroes on the pitch.

And we will share our hopes and cheers and a beer or two. This is Canada proud, strong, and free.