Thrive City turned into a full-blown soccer block party yesterday as thousands of fans jammed into the plaza outside Chase Center to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team kick off its World Cup run. Every one of the four U.S. goals in a 4-1 win over Paraguay set off another round of screams, chants and flying beer foam.
An official, free watch party hosted by the Bay Area Host Committee pulled in roughly 2,500 people to the Mission Bay plaza, according to NBC Bay Area. Chase Center splashed the match across Thrive City’s massive outdoor screen and advertised pre-match activities and programming on its event calendar, with organizers keeping the whole thing free and open to the public.
Fan March Sets The Tone
The night started with a Team USA fan march that formed at Crane Cove Park and snaked through Mission Bay before spilling into Thrive City. According to the Bay Area Host Committee’s event listing, organizers held a reserved viewing section for the first 250 marchers, folding the procession into the Bay Area Fan Zone slate of official World Cup-themed events.
“Electric” Crowd Draws Global Fans
Former U.S. women’s national team midfielder Leslie Osborne, who helped lead the march, told NBC Bay Area the scene gave her goosebumps and called the atmosphere electric. NBC Bay Area also caught up with visitors from Brazil, Switzerland, Ireland and England, including a Liverpool fan trying to score last-minute tickets to see the tournament in person.
One Stop In A Regionwide Watch-Party Circuit
Thrive City was just one of more than 30 free fan zones and watch sites scattered around the Bay Area over opening weekend, part of a regional effort that local outlets said would feature screenings, family activities and pop-up events tied to the tournament. ABC7 noted that official fan hubs and participating bars were expected to keep matches on screens across multiple neighborhoods as the games roll on.
More Soccer Nights Ahead At Thrive City
Thrive City is set to host additional public screenings through the group stage, with local partners such as Bay FC slated to appear at future activations, according to the club’s community events listings. Fans who missed Friday’s roar can check Chase Center and the Bay Area Host Committee for updated World Cup watch schedules and plaza programming.
