MADISON, Wis. – Soccer fans flocked to Breese Stevens Field bright and early on Saturday to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team in the knockout round of the World Cup for the first time since 2014.
You could feel the spirit before the match.
“Supporting the USA, got to get it done,” Jackson Smith, a soccer fan said. “Hopefully they can get passed Netherlands, not a ton of pressure, we got out of the group stage, that was the goal.”
“To be able to share this with all of our fans, in a different context, because we’re used to, you know, sharing it for Forward Madison, but on this kind of scale,” Evan Warwick, Forward Madison’s Director of Digital Content said. “It’s truly a once in a lifetime kind of event, and to be that watch party that people want to go to, that means a lot to us.”
Win or lose, Forward’s goal is to grow the game in an inclusive space.
“Create a culture, create a movement around Madison and beyond that soccer is here and here to stay,” Warwick said. “To just create a place and an atmosphere that was inclusive and welcoming to all so that everyone can kind of enjoy the beautiful game, so it wasn’t just for the US Men’s National Team games, it was for all of the World Cup.”
A soccer fan or not, we all fall for the world’s sport every four years.
“I think the world cup brings out the kind of fringe fans as well,” Smith said. “Get a little patriotic and a little soccer and put them together, Saturday morning, a little bit of beer can’t hurt.”
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