The U.S. is out of the World Cup, but the excitement continues for the final games

SEATTLE – The United States men's national team ended its World Cup tournament with a loss to Belgium 4-1 Monday at Seattle Stadium in the round of 16. It was a disappointing ending to a tournament every U.S. fan had high hopes to see the team make it to the semifinals. Prior to the game the fans once again showed up at the stadium hours before the start of the game, dressed in red, white and blue ready to watch a U.S. victory. 

Unlike the previous game in Seattle when the U.S. played Australia, and the streets were lined with thousands of yellow shirted Australians, the Belgium turnout was sparse in comparison. The Belgium team had been staying in Renton, Washington at the Providence Swedish Performance Center and Clubhouse, home to the MLS Seattle Sounders. And the team looked more rested on the field than the U.S. 

They played a step ahead of the U.S., fresher legs and more skillful. The U.S. defenders couldn't stop the speedier Belgian forwards, and the U.S. team will now watch the Belgians take on Spain in a quarterfinal game in Los Angeles Stadium on Friday.  

For the U.S. once again they bowed out in the round of 16, having done so four times in the last five World Cups. But for the fan base, perhaps this loss isn't the end of the world scenario Mexico fans might be feeling after a dramatic loss to England 3-2 in the Round of 16 at Estadio Azteca July 5. 

Many Americans are recreational soccer fans, some new to the game as was the case for a young woman sitting next to me at the Watch Party I attended in Seattle, conveniently located next to the Media Center.  

And then there are the passionate fans, who follow the local soccer clubs, like Allison Kemp, a Sounders fan and season ticket holder, who is at the World Cup for the atmosphere and attending the game. She says her husband is the real passionate Sounder fan, but she is enthusiastic for attending the game. 

"I mean, Sounders fans are pretty passionate, but this is another level of passion," she said. "So, yes, it's been a lot of fun." 

Three young men from Washington State had the American star forward Folarin Balogun's name written on their shirtless backs -- needless to say, they were big fans of the U.S. player who got a reprieve from FIFA and was allowed to play in the game after getting a red card in the previous game. And they confessed to spending most of their savings for tickets to the game.  

"I spent my last dime on this. I am in debt to this man because of this," he said pointing to his friend standing next to him.  

"I'm the bank for these broke boys," his friend said.  We put our savings in Ballot, we put our trust in Balo, we put everything in for Balo. In Balo we trust." 

"We literally spent our last dimes on this," another friend chimed in. "This is it! This is it!"  

Such is the passion of youth for a game they played in high school and continue to support from the stands with the utmost of zealous commitment.  

Cesar Roldan, originally from Guatemala but currently residing in Los Angeles, attended World Cup games in LA and traveled to Seattle to watch the matches. He was rooting for Mexico as his team to win it all, and though it was an intense but disappointing game between Mexico and England, he expressed his support for Mexico despite the loss.  

"It was intense, super intense," he said. "And I'm sad for Mexico, but that's how the game goes. I mean, somebody had to win. And somebody had to go home." 

He also noted the differences in stadium environments between LA and Seattle.  

"This environment is the same," he said, "But the facilities are different over there. They have air conditioning, a cover stadium, and here sometimes you sit in the sun, and you can get hot." 

Sydney Grobes, a passionate soccer fan from Washington, D.C., expressed her excitement about the U.S. team's performance at the World Cup, predicting a win in regular time by at least one goal. She was attending the game with her mother, Lynn, who shared her pride in attending the game with her daughter, emphasizing the joy of the mother-daughter experience.  

"So, she played travel soccer, and I was the one that paid for it," her mother said. "It's awesome to be with my daughter, and it is amazing that I'm here and able to afford to go - that's a big thing." 

The two also attended the England versus Panama game in New Jersey but admitted this experience was more fun to watch the U.S. team.  

"It's just so fun being around all the USA fans," Sydney said. "Yeah, it's so fun. I mean, the England fans are really fun too, but it's this has been way more fun." 

The World Cup hosted by neighboring countries in North America is the event of a lifetime for the fans who can attend the games or simply enjoy at a watch party as did Joe Rosati from Tacoma who was with his brother at the 13 Coins restaurant, sitting next to this reporter for the game.  

Rosati is a podcaster for a show "Truth Stream", and he articulately summarized the World Cup in the U.S. and North America, and what it means beyond the games themselves. 

"I think, the beautiful thing, despite the political divide in the country and the world, soccer is bringing people together, and what's cool is a lot of Europeans came over here, and despite the news that they had heard about how dangerous it was going to be, they've had an amazing, wonderful time, and that's the beauty of sports and unity," he said. "And I think really we all want the same thing. So, if we can get past a lot of this nonsense of division, I think, most people want to do good, to be good, and you know, to be left alone to do what they want to do, and not really interfering with other people's lives. And hopefully that this is a catalyst to the world that's possible, because I think there's a much better world that's possible for humanity than what we've seen thus far. So, hopefully this is that energy is contagious." 

    A zealous group of friends show their support for U.S. World Cup national team star forward Folarin Balogun.
  

    Brothers Joe (left) and Mike Rosati, from Tacoma, are joined by a colorful fan at a Watch Party in the 13 Coins restaurant across the street from the Seattle Stadium where the U.S. took on Belgium in the round of 16. The U.S. lost the match 4-1.
  

    Seattle Stadium hosted its final World Cup soccer match Monday when the U.S. took on Belgium.