Written by: Colt Pratt / Staff writer and Lydia Styf / Spill editor
The World Cup has always had its own way of bringing the world together every four years to watch one sport. This year was the first year that many kids and teens in the United States have been able to witness the sport in their own stadiums.
“I got to watch the ‘22 world cup and the 2018 world cup, but this is the first one a lot of the younger generation get to see,” junior Liam Day said.
Watch parties with the boys’ soccer team became a team-building experience between them as they saw the sport they play on the largest stage in the world.
“It’s been great because it’s created a really good sense of community between the team, and even people I normally wouldn’t hang out with much because when the world cup game’s on–if it’s a fun game, if it’s an important one especially–they’re like ‘let’s all come over and watch’ and it’s just a sense of community,” Day said.
This sense of community has become the backbone of the team, allowing them to adapt their playing to what they saw on the screen. It has also impacted the way that the captains have taken to leadership.
“Watching the captains of international teams lead and compete on such a big stage shows how you should carry yourself whether in front of millions or just your home crowd,” soccer captain junior Noah Diaz de Leon said.
The impact of watching the work of international players has greatly impacted the way that the team plays and works together, however they are not the only ones who were affected.
“I think most people kind of just don’t know a lot about it, so they kind of just have their own assumed opinions about the sport, but because of the proximity, because it was low-goal and you just heard about it and had to hear about it,” Day said. “I think it built respect in the states for the game.”
Even without the experience of playing the game, Americans have come together to watch and enjoy the game.
The World Cup has become a great influence for Americans, regardless of how they relate to the game. The proximity and the culture surrounding the sport have worked together to create an experience that soccer players and fans alike will never forget.
“We’re all built around this one game,” Day said. “This fun experience where you can get to know someone and build a community especially in the team.”
