With the whole world watching, Albuquerque gladly joined in, too.
New Mexicans were emotionally invested in the world’s most popular sport. Beer in hand, fans at bars around town were glued to big-screen televisions, watching a 1-0 Spanish victory over the Netherlands, with the breakthrough coming in the 116th minute.
For the last month, Albuquerque soccer fans have filed into sports bars all over the city.
Specifically, Fox and Hound Pub and Grille has been a hot spot, and the pub opened at 8 a.m. for matches because of the time difference in South Africa.
Javier Lopez, a Las Cruces native, was at Fox and Hound soaking in the Spanish victory, the country’s first ever World Cup title.
“I wish I was going to Disney World. Unfortunately I am not,” Lopez said. “Spain deserved it. They were the better team. The Netherlands did not play as well as (Spain).”
Proudly sporting orange, Sander Hoekstra, a Holland native, was hoping to see his country win its first World Cup title.
But he will have to wait at least four more years.
“We haven’t been in the final for many, many years and it is really important to Holland,” he said.
Despite their rooting interests, both Lopez and Hoekstra agreed the publicity has been good in building a faithful American fan base.
“Soccer is a beautiful game,” Lopez said. “I mean, it is the most popular sport in the world, but little do Americans know this. But I guess the smarter people know that it is the best sport in the world.”
Hoekstra said he’s seen an outpouring of support across the nation.
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“I lived in Portland, Ore., and what I saw there is that soccer was becoming a very popular sport,” Hoekstra said. “I am not sure how it is here in Albuquerque, but I know that the little kids are really into playing it, and I think if you give it a few more years, the sport will be really popular here in this country.”
