Swedish women's soccer team greeted with shrieks, cheers for FIFA cup in Winnipeg

Dozens of girls waving Swedish flags shrieked and cheered as the Swedish women's soccer team arrived at Winnipeg's James Richardson International Airport Wednesday to compete in the FIFA Women's World Cup. 

Emma Berglund, one of the players, said the team is used to big crowds, but she admitted, the vocal welcome caught her off guard.

"Didn't expect to see this many Swedish fans," she laughed. "I just asked them, 'Where did you get them from?' But they wouldn't say!" 

• Winnipeg soccer fans gear up for FIFA despite dark cloud over event
• FIFA soccer fans invited to take free Winnipeg Trolley rides
• Young Winnipeg soccer players to take world stage at FIFA

And it wasn't just local Winnipeg media who showed up for the team's arrival. 

Kajsa Norell is in Winnipeg to cover the games for Swedish Public Radio in Stockholm. Even before the team arrived, the girls would erupt in squeals from time to time. 

Norell was impressed.

"Wow. I think it's amazing with all the girls screaming, cheering for us," she beamed. "I think it's awesome. It's great."

The Swedish team had yet more fans waiting to greet them.

Sonja Lundstrom of the Swedish Cultural Association of Manitoba said it felt like a reunion. 

"We're so excited that they have come. It's like part of our family coming here and we're just oozing with the spirit of it.It's wonderful to make these connections, to cheer for our country and to meet the people that have come with them." 

Lundstrom said they will take the team on a walking tour, highlighting the Swedes in Canada and Winnipeg.

There's a luncheon at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre.

"And then, we're there for the games," she said. 

She said she already knows what it means to the players to be welcomed by Swedes here.

"I can only imagine," she said. "If they can feel in their hearts what we're feeling in our hearts, it'll zoom them. It's going to be a wonderful time together."

Huge crowds are expected at Winnipeg Stadium and Swedish coach Pia Sundhage said that's good news for the team and for women's soccer.

"It means a lot. I've been at the Olympic gold medal [games] for instance, 83,000 watching a women's game. That atmosphere is contagious," she said. "I'm really looking forward to that atmosphere because that I think the women's game deserves that kind of atmosphere."