With the referee’s final blow of the whistle, it was suddenly over. After one month of worldwide soccer-mania, Spain had accomplished what 31 other teams had failed to do. It had won the coveted World Cup for the first time in its history, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the waning minutes of extra time.
Boasting the motto, “the one month every four years when the world can agree on one thing,” this summer’s tournament captured the attention of viewers worldwide and took Southern California by storm as well.
No one was happier to see the passion and excitement for the game grow in the U.S. than members of the men’s and women’s UCLA soccer teams.
“It seems like every World Cup cycle, the buzz generates a little more than before,” men’s senior goalkeeper Kevin Weiner said. “The fact that (the U.S.) did pretty well in this World Cup, it got a lot of people watching.”
With bars and restaurants opening in the wee hours of the morning to show the games, people across the country couldn’t help but get caught up in the World Cup fever.
“I was in Seattle for the game against Slovenia, and the bar I went to at 7 in the morning was absolutely packed with American fans,” women’s senior midfielder Taylor Cochran said. “It was such a fun environment and so great to see Americans supporting U.S. soccer.”
It’s evident that American interest in soccer has spiked during this particular tournament, with many first-time World Cup followers joining in on the worldwide party.
“I think what really helped with the popularity of this World Cup is the way America played with so much heart and fought to the end,” women’s senior forward Liz Zadro said. “It really exemplified the American spirit by capturing the character and unfaltering determination we hold so close to our identity as Americans.”
Word of the American celebratory spirit even made its way over to South Africa, where fourth-year communications student Kerry Bradley, also the manager of the UCLA women’s soccer team, was cheering on the red, white and blue.
“Obviously, I was really excited to be in South Africa, but I kept hearing from all of my friends back home about how crazy it was here, and part of me was kind of sad that I was missing out on experiencing that,” Bradley said.
Bradley spent two and a half weeks in South Africa to cheer on her father, Bob Bradley, as he coached the U.S. men’s soccer team and her brother, Michael Bradley, who started every match as a midfielder.
She was able to witness firsthand how the game of soccer ignited the spirit of the host nation.
“It was just crazy everywhere you went,” Kerry Bradley said. “Where we stayed in Johannesburg, you could hear the vuvuzelas all night long. They never stopped. There were just parades and parties in the streets, everywhere you went.”
Even with the World Cup over, the month-long event has left a lasting impact, particularly on the UCLA men’s soccer team.
“We have a soccer house, and we’ve been waking up early pretty much every morning to get together, eat breakfast and watch the World Cup games,” junior defender Zack Zerrenner said. “I think that these games have kind of helped bring our team together a bit.”
Taking advantage of the opportunity for team bonding, the players even engaged in friendly banter about the outcome of games, with the loser having to buy dinner. Occasionally though, there was more at stake than simply food.
During Team USA’s first game of the World Cup, Weiner attempted to watch the game alongside teammate Andy Rose, a junior defender from England. The only problem: The Americans were playing against a highly favored English team.
“The first game it got a little heated because (England) went up early,” Weiner said. “(Andy) was talking a little bit, but then we scored the second goal and he quieted down. There was a little tension after the game when we tied, but it was mostly a friendly rivalry.”
The post-tournament impact has also had a tremendous effect on Bradley and her family.
“My dad and brother are home now, and everywhere we go, they’re just getting overwhelming responses from people, thanking them and just saying how awesome it was to watch,” Bradley said. “It really feels like people were getting into it, which is really exciting.”
Spain may have taken home the championship, leaving members of the UCLA men’s team fawning over its technical ability and free-flowing style, but the American pride continues to live on and take precedence.
“It’s been fun to watch Spain, but I’m a little too stubborn to say I’ve been rooting for any other team because my whole heart has been with the U.S.,” Bradley said.
Now that the major event for men’s soccer has come to an end, there is considerable optimism that popularity for the sport in the U.S. will continue toward the Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Germany next year.
“Both the U.S. men’s and women’s teams have achieved a lot of fan support and hopefully it will continue on to next summer,” Zadro said.
With the World Cup being held only once every four years, there is a prevalent consensus that soccer does not have to necessarily fade into the background until the next cycle.
“I think it will definitely help raise the popularity for the Women’s World Cup,” Bradley said. “Everybody is so into soccer right now, why not just keep the ball rolling?”