The World Cup has begun.
A month full of thrilling international soccer is upon us. Fans will cheer, cry and show off their jerseys as 32 countries compete for one of the most prestigious championships in sports.
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The first match took place at 2 p.m. MST Thursday when host country Brazil won a controversial match against Croatia. The 2014 FIFA World Cup will conclude when a winner is crowned on July 13.
“It’s one of the biggest events in the world for a soccer fan,” said Alex Timberlake, an engineering senior at Colorado State University.
Die-hard fans are not the only ones excited for the tournament, it does not take an avid follower to appreciate the intense matches or the emotions that run so high.
For the next four weeks, countries around the world will unite to support their national teams. Of the 31 countries other than the U.S. competing in the World Cup this year, 26 had at least one student that attended CSU last semester, according to the CSU fact book.
Timberlake says he will support the U.S. but knows that the odds are not in their favor.
“Obviously, I’m rooting for them, but I think the team that has the best chance to win it all is probably Germany,” Timberlake said.
No matter who wins or loses, soccer fans at the University are relishing this opportunity to binge watch the sport.
“I’ll probably catch most of the games here [in Old Town] so I can get a buzz on while enjoying some football,” said Darius Kubicek, an engineering senior at CSU.
Musaab Al-Maqbali, an exchange student from Oman in CSU’s Academic English Program, has different plans.
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“Most games, there will be at least 10 of us in my living room, yelling at the TV,” he said with a smile. “It’s very important in my country.”
Common start times for matches are 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. MST, but there are some exceptions. Most matches will air on ESPN or ESPN2. Important games and dates are listed below.
If you are looking for somewhere in town to watch matches, there are a few options. CB & Potts, Road 34, and Ryan’s Sport Bar and Grill will all show every World Cup match, and will open early for games beginning at 10 a.m.
CB & Potts, sponsor of the Fort Collins Soccer Club, will also be hosting a viewing party for the first U.S. Men’s game on Monday, June 16. Sound will be turned on for all U.S. Men’s games, and some others upon request.
Collegian Staff Reporter Emmett McCarthy can be reached at news@collegian.com.
Important Games and Dates:
U.S. vs. Ghana – 4 p.m. Monday, June 16 (on ESPN)
U.S. vs. Portugal – 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22 (on ESPN)
U.S. vs. Germany – 10 a.m. Thursday, June 26 (on ESPN)
World Cup Final – 1 p.m. Sunday, July 13 (on ABC)
