Soccer fans in Nebraska take in the World Cup

Nebraska soccer fans are turning out to their neighborhood spots to get a taste of the FIFA World Cup. The U.S. Men’s National Team will hit the pitch Thursday in its final group stage match. The team has already won their group and will advance to the knockout round. Several fans in Nebraska’s capital city have been taking in the action.

At a Captain Jack’s bar in Lincoln, Brianne Wolf originally from Leigh, Nebraska, said watching soccer brings people together.

“It's awesome, because there's not that many places in the US that are super hardcore for soccer,” Wolf said.

Seeing foreigners on social media experience the U.S. and its people has been fun, Wolf said.

Chase Grossman played soccer in college and watched from a bar in Lincoln on Friday, as the U.S. defeated Australia. Having places to gather and watch the U.S. helps grow the game.

“I think it's a good way to bring more fans in, not just like the die-hards, but more casual fans and get them involved a little bit more,” Grossman said.

He said soccer fans also offer a great community. The Americans could advance through a few stages in the knockout round to potentially make the quarterfinals, Grossman predicted.

Juanus Smith is a more casual soccer fan out to watch the World Cup. With the sport still trying to gain popularity in the U.S., he encouraged people to get out and experience it for themselves to catch a case of World Cup fever.

“Listen, I know you're going to cut this out,” Smith joked, “but the United States does not love soccer, so if you want to experience it, you have to go to a place where it's happening, right? You can't just sit at home and feel the city buzz, because there's no city buzz about soccer, unfortunately.”

He called it the Super Bowl of the world.

The U.S. will face Turkey at 9 p.m. CT on Fox and Peacock, and then will compete in the knockout round at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, July 1.