They called them forgotten men. The faceless bureaucrats and retired diplomats who, a decade ago, quietly helped Canada secure the rights to host a World Cup. Now, as the tournament kicks off, those same figures are being hailed as heroes.
But why the sudden revisionist history? Sources on the ground in Ottawa tell me the truth is more complicated. The UK's role in this sporting saga is the real story.
A trail of documents I've obtained shows British diplomats working behind the scenes to grease the wheels for Canada's bid. They call it 'sporting diplomacy'. I call it influence peddling with a football veneer.
The Canadians got their stadiums. The Brits got favours. And the public?
They got a feel-good narrative about forgotten heroes. One former FIFA insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me: 'The UK has unmatched soft power in these circles. They open doors no one else can.
' But at what cost? The files show meetings in Geneva, phone calls logged in London, and a series of loans from UK-based financial institutions to the Canadian organising committee. No one is suggesting outright corruption.
But when you follow the money, you start to see patterns. And the pattern here is clear: the UK used Canada as a proxy to extend its sporting reach. Meanwhile, the so-called heroes are trotted out for photo ops.
None of them will talk to me directly. Their lawyers say they are too busy 'enjoying the beautiful game'. But I've spoken to a former aide who helped coordinate the bid.
He told me: 'We were just pawns. The real power was in Whitehall.' The UK government denies any improper influence.
A spokesperson called the allegations 'baseless' and said the UK was simply 'supporting a Commonwealth ally'. That may be true. But in my experience, when diplomats get involved in sports, someone is keeping score.
And it's not just goals.
