Ayubowan.
That’s how my day started, a simple “hello” in Sinhala from my Sri Lankan Uber driver as he drove me to Toronto Stadium to pick up my accreditation and attend the Panama vs Croatia pre-match press conference.
Jet lag was already doing its work. I slept late, woke up slowly, and headed out for my first official World Cup assignment.
The ride became more than just transport. My driver had lived in Canada for years but still kept his Sri Lankan passport. When I asked why, he simply said, “I love my country.”
That opened a conversation about identity, migration and culture. Somewhere along the way, he casually mentioned that he once dated a Nigerian woman from the South-South. One of those rides where a stranger becomes part of your story.
At the stadium, accreditation was smooth. While waiting for the printout at the centre, I saw volunteers from different backgrounds — young and old, mostly women — all working together for the biggest tournament in football.
One of them was a Nigerian woman. A quick conversation, a photo, and another little World Cup memory added to the day.
Inside the media centre, I met Seyi, a Nigerian photojournalist, and caught up with other journalists before Croatia’s press conference. I missed Panama’s earlier session, but during Croatia’s, I saw a familiar face from WAFCON. Do you remember that CAF official I wrote about during the tournament in Morocco? This time, she was on FIFA duties, overseeing the press conference, and she even recognised me.
I also got to ask Mateo Kovačić a question, another first milestone. The video is available on our social media handles.
Afterwards, it was coffee (the official refreshment at the media centre) and planning for my first live match coverage the next day.
Then came the exit… and that’s when things got real.
Stadiums look big on television, but Toronto Stadium feels completely different when you are trying to find Gate 4.
What should have been a simple pickup turned into an accidental stadium marathon. Toronto Stadium gave me my first World Cup exercise before I had even watched a match.
I eventually found Gate 4 after several minutes, only to discover that my Uber had cancelled.
The next driver told me to return to Gate B, where I started. By the time I got there, I was freezing.
I had been told Canada wasn’t too cold at this time, so I didn’t bother wearing my jacket.
Big mistake.
I was covered in goosebumps before I even got into the car. Lesson learned: always carry the jacket.
On the way home, I watched the city pass by and tried to keep up with matches happening around the world, Lionel Messi breaking records, Kylian Mbappé making history, Erling Haaland scoring a brace. Goals everywhere.
I also chatted with the driver, who wasn’t really into football, he was more interested in arm wrestling. But like most rides, it became another small window into someone else’s world.
Then came eba and egusi soup, a reminder of home, followed by calls and messages across the time difference.
But I had to sleep.
The big one is up next: my first live FIFA World Cup match coverage.
Can’t wait to see what unfolds.
