They’re so mad — they almost couldn’t keep their shirts on.
After Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row, devastated and angry fans participated in what they thought was a jersey exchange.
Canada Soccer announced Friday it would be hosting a shirt swap, which entailed trading in an Italian one for a Canadian jersey after Italy lost Tuesday to Bosnia & Herzegovina.
“Dear Italian soccer fans, Don’t wait four more years. Swap your jersey for Canada,” the organization said in an X post.
When the hundreds of Italian soccer fans who had watched their team lose 4-1 in a penalty shootout arrived to the solemn event — held at a café in Toronto’s Little Italy neighborhood on Saturday — they were told they’d actually get to keep their jerseys.
Instead, the frustrated fans were given Canada Soccer kits and posters.
People praised the Canadians for their good sportsmanship — and their stellar marketing skills.
“Honestly, not a bad incentive from Soccer Canada,” one said.
“So smart,” another added.
Another slammed those who came to trade in their jerseys for being fair-weather fans.
“Loyalty isn’t something you trade—it’s something you wear for life,” a commentator said.
“If you switched, you never had it.”