Soccer fans bring their passion to Atlanta for USA-Panama match

“PA-NA-MA! PA-NA-MA! PA-NA-MA!”

Greene County native Mike Hackett drove more than an hour to arrive early because he didn’t want to miss this golden opportunity as a new football fan.

“I watched football, of course, between this tournament and the European tournament. It was just crazy. And then I was like, “You know what? Why wouldn’t I go? » It’s an hour and a half drive. Why don’t I go see the match? It is obvious. I love being here. I can’t wait for all the excitement,” Hackett said.

He offered his perspective on Team USA and the road ahead.

“The exciting thing about this team is that they are all young. So this group is going to stay together for a long, long time. Just seeing their energy on your field is very exciting. And I think they’re going to have a good run in the tournament,” Hackett said.

Hackett even wore custom red, white and blue sneakers.

A young Team USA superfan from Atlanta shared his excitement for the game on Thursday.

“I’m very excited. I feel like we’re going to win, obviously because it’s a home game. In my opinion, Team USA has the best home fans of all time,” Christian Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez wore a white Copa América outfit and even made a sign for the match. He thinks his favorite player, Christian Pulisic, will score two goals, maybe even a hat-trick.

And the Gutierrez family brought their fervor all the way from El Paso, Texas, with the family patriarch wearing a large Uncle Sam-like hat, reminding people that “fan” is short for “fanatic.”

In the backyard of Home Depot, people were unfolding lawn chairs, playing games and doing anything else to stay energized and ready for the game. The most important thing was the drinks, as attendees knew it was going to be another scorching heat. But that didn’t deter them from coming out and supporting their respective countries.

Georgia resident Lyane Arauz explained how excited she was to attend the game with her Panamanian friends and family.

“I’m here to support my country and I think Panama is going to play a fantastic match,” Arauz said. “We will win 3-0,” he added.

Arauz, his friends and family sat on chairs, cracked open a few beers and played a friendly game of soccer while they waited for the food to finish cooking.

A Panamanian mother brought her son from Boston to watch the game.

“We’re here to represent our country and we make sure they see our power. … This is the first time I’ve taken my son to a live game, so he’s really excited to be a part of it,” the mother said.

The excitement was evident for the neighborhoods around downtown and midtown Atlanta, because these people know these kinds of opportunities don’t come around often. Some saved money for months to travel with their families to the global sporting event. One family said they bought the tickets two months ago and couldn’t wait to attend the game.

Fans watched Team USA defeat Bolivia 2-0 with Pulisic and Folarin Balogun scoring, to kick off the Copa América. They are hoping that Pulisic can lead the United States to another victory in their quest for a championship. Some even shared the teams’ performances later, making lofty predictions.

“I feel very calm. The United States wins 3-0. I think I’m very confident, yes,” said Gabe Lopez, a kid from Tampa, Florida.

When asked who his favorite player was, Gabe turned around and pointed to his jersey with Pulisic’s name on it. Gabe Lopez’s father, Juan Lopez, also shared his thoughts on Team USA.

“They are a young team and they have spent enough time together. They can be like dark horses in this tournament,” Juan Lopez said.

The Tovar family of Hinesville also highlighted the performance of the American team. The whole family had signs as big as them.

“We think we can beat them again, it’s an easy challenge in my opinion. … We think they’re going to do their best as long as they can keep putting pressure on them, so we put that in the bag,” the Tovar family said.

People took Uber and MARTA, drove their own cars, and even walked to attend Thursday’s game. Plus, with CNN’s first presidential debate taking place that same night, fans and attendees made sure to allow plenty of time to get to downtown Atlanta, as several roads were closed and traffic made for a tedious afternoon.

This summer, the Copa América takes place at the same time as the UEFA European Championship, commonly known as Euro 2024. With football being the dominant sport in Europe, people want to show that in Georgia, a southern state that takes pride in its football at the college and professional levels, football is popular.

The favorites for Thursday night’s match are the United States, with a 17-7-2 record against Panama in head-to-head matches.

After Thursday’s match, the American team will travel to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, to face Uruguay in the final round of the group stage. This match will be played on July 1.