Fans hopeful Cavalry FC's first championship will build support for soccer in Calgary

After taking down their rivals to claim their first Canadian Premier League championship this past weekend, Cavalry FC midfielder Shamit Shome has a message.

"Calgary is a soccer city now." 

Shome said he thinks the team's historic victory has already gone a long way in building momentum for the sport, adding that he's proud to have played a part in growing the game for future generations.

"When you look at the final and the atmosphere and the amount of people that were there, and just how loud and how exciting it was, it just goes to show how far [Calgary] has come."

The Calgary club beat Hamilton Forge FC in a 2-1 nail-biter at home on Saturday, in front of a sold-out crowd of over 7,000 fans at Spruce Meadows. 

Pavit Sidhu was one of them and he echoed Shome's sentiments. Sidhu is an original member of the Foot Soldiers, Cavalry FC's official fan group since the league began in 2019.

"It's going to put [Calgary] on the map. It's going to ensure that people know that, hey, you know what, we do have a champion team in this city," said Sidhu.

"All this is going to do is grow that support, grow the fan base, grow the awareness of both the sport but also all of the professional folks that are behind the sport, and make sure that soccer has a stable home here in Calgary."

Having finished in the league's top two spots in the regular season, both Cavalry and Forge have qualified for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, which kicks off in February. 

It's a next step for the squad that Matthew Neville, general manager of Elephant & Castle pub, is already preparing for. He said he thinks Cavalry's win on the weekend has already drawn in some new fans.

"We hosted the official afterparty on Saturday night here with the Cavalry team and the pub was bumping, and we had a great time and lots of new faces," said Neville.

"So the only way is up." 

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to Canada, and Calgary's new women's soccer team, Wild FC, set to launch next year, Shome said there's a new buzz around the city's soccer community.

"I think [there's] just going to be more games, more sports for people to go out to and watch. And I think the city of Calgary is starting to really appreciate the sport of soccer more so than maybe other cities, other clubs in the league," Shome said.

Sidhu already has plans to travel to watch Cavalry FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup next year, but watching his team win on Saturday was a moment he'll never forget. 

"We've gotten close a few times before, but this time around I felt different," Sidhu said. "It felt like it was coming home on home soil against our original rivals in the league.

"It was meant to be. Like everyone knew it. It was just a matter of time."