Dearborn — Local soccer fans converged on a Dearborn park Friday to cheer on the U.S. men’s national team during their second game of the World Cup, hopeful they’ll be able to continue their winning momentum.
American flags flapped in the breeze as fans cheered at Dearborn’s Peace Park West when the U.S. jumped to 2-0 lead against Australia by half time. The game is being played in Seattle.
Khurram Aziz came from Canton to Dearborn with his two kids to watch the match and cheer on the U.S. men’s team during the second game of the group stage. He said he’s excited to watch the U.S. win and got into soccer when his son, Bilal, started playing about four years ago.
“I started loving football the day he started playing football,” Aziz said.
Bilal, 12, said he plays midfield and defense.
“I want to see the US win,” he said.
Friday’s game came after the U.S. men’s team defeated Paraguay 4-1 in their first game of the group stage.
Detroit City Football Club has watch parties planned throughout the World Cup.
A watch party for Team USA’s June 19 match will take place at Campus Martius Park. The June 25 match will be televised at Detroit City Fieldhouse, 3401 E. Lafayette St., in Detroit.
Jordan Wardell, who’s been a soccer fan for 15 years since he watched the World Cup when he was 12, said it felt really good to see the U.S. score so soon into the game because the team tends to struggle. But he’s optimistic about the team’s chances to keep going in the competition this year.
“Hopefully, they’ll make it further than they ever have before,” he said.
jcardi@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Soccer fans gather at Dearborn watch party to cheer on U.S. in World Cup
Reporting by Julia Cardi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Julia Cardi, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
