Upon entering the Columbus Crew’s Soccer Celebration watch party at the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Australia men’s teams, the smell of beer filled the air, along with the voices of hundreds of excited fans.
Columbus was more than ready to celebrate, and the U.S. Men’s National Team delivered by beating Australia 2-0 in this long-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup game. The free event saw hundreds join to eat Jeni’s Ice Cream and other local food, take advantage of the photo booth, entertain their children with crafts and games, and, of course, view the soccer match on two large screens at the Commons.
A big crowd gathering to watch a sporting event generates good karma, Kevin Haas, of New Albany, said before the match began.
“People don’t think that’s real,” Haas said. “I think energy is created from tons of people together, and that’s the karma we’re creating today.”
In terms of the type of pep talk Haas would give to the U.S. Men’s National Team, he preferred to keep it short and sweet.
“Be confident,” Haas said. “Be arrogant. Greatness comes from momentum.”
Each of the two U.S. goals had attendees erupting in cheers and chants of “USA! USA!” Maybe the players heard Haas’ pep talk, because the U.S. team scored both of its goals by halftime, and the Columbus crowd could not have been happier. They also could not wait to create a long line for the alcoholic beverage tent placed near the two screens playing the game.
Abby Manuel, also from New Albany, said she has not been following the World Cup this year, but she said watching this game at the Crew Soccer Celebration was an electric experience.
“Honestly, it feels amazing,” Manuel said, adding: “All the players are low-key kind of cute.”
Westerville resident Andrew Barr said during halftime that soccer is a unifying force.
“Soccer is the language heard around the world,” Barr said. “It just kind of brings people together, and we’re a growing soccer country. I mean, the atmosphere here is just getting better and better.”
As the second half sped along, Team USA defended its goal and its two-goal lead.
When the game concluded, a loud roar ensued. Children kicked small soccer balls around, and friends toasted to the win. And because this is Columbus, people started bolting to their cars to beat traffic.
The U.S. team is doing a fantastic job, Columbus resident Jalal Raza said once the game ended.
“I love watching scrappy soccer and intense soccer, and that is exactly what this game was,” Raza said. “It was a really, really entertaining game to watch.”
Jared Brown, also from Columbus, said the World Cup brings people from all walks of life together for the love of the game, and he could see that at the Crew’s celebration and watch party.
“I think it really just helps people realize that everyone’s a lot more similar than you realize,” Brown said. “No one’s really that different than each other. And when you put people in one area, you really get to see that.”
Raza, who is the son of Turkish and Pakistani immigrants, said he could feel the internationalism alive in the U.S. because of the World Cup.
“America is like a nebulous spot,” Raza said. “It’s renowned, it has a name, a reputation across the entire world. And for us to host something that is so inherently international, it is so ecstatic. And I feel incredibly proud to be an American, to be Turkish, to be Pakistani. But just for people to be in my home too, it feels great.”
The Columbus Crew is hosting another watch party next weekend, June 25, for the USA vs. Turkey game.
Dispatch Reporter Nora Igelnik can be reached at nigelnik@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Crew watch party brings city together for Team USA win in World Cup match
Reporting by Nora Igelnik, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Nora Igelnik, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
