SPOKANE, Wash. — Fans were out in full force Thursday night cheering on the U.S. Men’s National team in their final World Cup group stage game.
Team USA lost to Turkiye on a late goal, but this is still the best start to the tournament the U.S. has had since 1930.
“They’ve been playing really well and it’s great to be in an atmosphere with a bunch of other fans,” fan Harper Churape said.
The U.S. finished its group with six points, the best group stage result since the first ever World Cup in 1930. Fans have been through the highs and lows of the tournament so far.
“I think this is the best team they have maybe had ever,” Churape said. “They’ve been playing really well, really connected. It’s been really cool to watch.”
Beyond the results of the games, fans are enjoying the camaraderie being built as they cheer on the men in the stars and stripes.
“In this moment where we are doing well and our country is kind of getting brought together, people from all around the world are being brought here,” Mattson Overstreet said. “It’s just a beautiful, amazing thing that’s going on.”
Fans are building on that newfound friendship and creating lasting memories they hope will help build the game here in the states.
“I’ve been playing soccer my whole life and I have been around the world visiting buddies that love soccer and watching soccer games all over the world,” Overstreet said. “The fact that we get to host it is incredible.”
Despite losing Thursday’s match, fans are riding the high of winning their group for the first time since 2010. They have high hopes for how far this squad can go.
“My heart is saying we are going to win it all. My brain is saying we are going to lose in the semis, but we are going the heart. The heart is what you have to listen to,” Overstreet said.
The U.S. will advance to the knockout stage and take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 at 5 p.m.
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