Attending a World Cup game has certainly lived up to the hype.
The rowdiness of the Australian contingent was something to behold. Lacking a rooting interesting in the game between the Socceroos and Paraguay, I was just content to revel in rowdy atmosphere. The concourses at Levi’s San Francisco Bay Area Stadium was jammed with cheers, songs, and copious beer drinking. To be amongst the festivities alone was worth the hefty price of admission.
The Paraguayan fans were equally as vocal. The World Cup is truly sports fanaticism at its very best.
Because the game itself was certainly not all that entertaining. That’s the trap of drawing the third match of the group stage. The stakes can either be high, or non existing. Australia and Paraguay could both advance to the next round with a draw, and the two teams played to that advantage. Neither side seems to press forwards with any verve, and the few actual shots on goal were right to the goalkeeper. If this were a normal football game, I’d ask for my $500 back.
But how often can you say you’ve attended an actual World Cup match? Probably just this once, in my lifetime. I’m very happy to have ticked this box on the kick-the-bucket list.
And good on the live audience to boo the hydration break in between the halves for exactly what it is: a blatant money grab. The American broadcast partner wanted to sell more ads. In no circumstances do the best in the world need a mandatory break from the action in dry, breezy, 72 degrees °F weather. (Shoutout to our European cousins weathering a tremendous heatwave currently.)
The United States really might be the best country to host the World Cup. I’m pretty sure America has the largest diaspora of many nations. It’s that diversity that makes hosting this international event so convenient. The traveling contingent is mixed in together with a sizable group locally. Take Iran, a team with very little to no traveling supporters from the home country due to the ongoing war, was able to find their tribe in Iranian Americans living in Southern California.
That’s pretty beautiful.
A great ole party.