Meet Ferrucccio, proud owner of North America Sports – the Soccer Shop, a proper old-school soccer shop that’s been serving Vancouver since 1978. It’s family-run, packed wall-to-wall with boots, scarves, jerseys, and more.  They’ve been specializing in soccer footwear, equipment, and apparel for decades, with everything from club kits to World Cup gear, match balls, and national team jerseys already stocked for 2026.

Inside North America Sports it feels less like a store and more like a clubhouse that’s been here forever. It’s loud, it’s loyal, it’s a very much Italian

Ferruccio immigrated to Canada from Italy at the age of 10. In 1976, he opened his business with a focus on ski equipment. But after two winters with little snow, he made a bold decision that would shape the future of his business. In 1978, he shifted entirely to soccer. It was a leap of faith and East Hastings was the perfect place to take it.

During the Vancouver Whitecaps’ rise in the old North American Soccer League, Ferruccio noticed fans lining up outside the club’s ticket office on East Hastings. He knew this was where Vancouver’s soccer community gathered. When the Whitecaps moved to Gastown in 1983, he took over their former location, where North America Sports continues to welcome players, coaches, families, and fans today.

For decades, the shop has been much more than a retail store. It’s been a gathering place where generations of newcomers found jerseys from home, young athletes bought their first pair of boots, and local clubs received expert advice from someone who genuinely loves the game. Long before soccer became one of Canada’s fastest-growing sports, neighbourhood businesses like North America Sports helped keep the passion alive. Built by immigrant communities who brought the world’s game with them, shops like Ferruccio’s became cultural touchstones connecting people through sport, community, and shared traditions.

Canada welcomes the FIFA World Cup and millions of new fans discover the game, Ferruccio remains committed to what has always mattered most: personal service, authentic products, and helping every customer find exactly what they need.

As the world turns its eyes to soccer this summer, we’re proud that one of Vancouver’s longest-standing soccer shops continues to call East Village home.

Photos by Michal Urbanek Photography