D.C. goes wild for world’s biggest sporting event
From its bars to its embassies, Washington’s about to catch a case of soccer fever.
The FIFA World Cup, the world’s most widely watched sporting event, gets under way Friday and it’s going to see some strong support in D.C., one the world’s most international cities.
The 2010 tournament kicks off at 10 a.m. EST, with host South Africa taking on Mexico in the opening match of the 31-day extravaganza. According to FIFA, the last World Cup in 2006 garnered a total cumulative audience of about 26 billion viewers.
Across the Washington area, bars and restaurants have been preparing for increased business and longer hours.
“We expect a full house every day,” said Paul Lusty, owner of Lucky Bar in Dupont Circle. Like several venues, the bar will be showing every game, opening at 7 a.m. most days.
“We’re going to be set up like the Alamo, ready for the charge,” he said.
The bar, which is displaying flags from the 32 nations in the tournament, already gets many weekly patrons who come in looking to get their soccer fix. But every four years, Lusty says, people of all nationalities “come out of the woodwork when the World Cup comes around,” he said. “They all come out looking for their country.”
Some establishments plan to use the spike in attendance to promote charity.
The Town Tavern in Adams Morgan is hosting a charity event on Thursday, the eve of the U.S. team’s second match. Meg Runeari, the bar’s marketing coordinator and a former college soccer player, said the proceeds will go to United for D.C., the charitable arm of Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, which gives disadvantaged children the chance to play soccer.
At British-style gastropub Againn in downtown Washington, customers can compete for bragging rights in Bangers vs. Burgers, a competition to see which side can order the most plates of their country’s favored dish.
“Since bangers and mash are traditional [English] pub food and burgers are traditional food for bars in this country, I thought it’d be fun to do,’ said Chelsea Pede, Againn’s events coordinator.
While the bar scene is roping in local World Cup fandom, the diplomatic community will be commemorating the event with their own celebrations.
The German Embassy is hosting the Australian Embassy for the match between their two nations Sunday afternoon. A private event, about 400 guests of the embassies will gather for bratwurst, meat pies and fundraising.
Scott Bolitho, first secretary of public affairs for the Australian Embassy, said money from sales of alcohol and the auctioning of jerseys and soccer balls at the event will go to the U.S. Soccer Foundation.
In a more low-key event, the Dutch Embassy is having the Danish Embassy staff over for breakfast Monday morning in another private event to watch the match between the two nations’ teams.
Torsten Jansen, minister counselor of the public diplomacy and communication department at the Danish Embassy, said that it’s nice to take a break for a little soccer.
“We let them do the work and we win the match instead,” he said, laughing.
The South African Embassy will host a daylong event Friday where the opening festivities and first match will be screened for invitees, which include several ambassadors and diplomats from all African nations and other qualifying countries.
According to embassy official Mongezi Mahlulo, guests will be treated to a braai, or South African barbecue, for lunch.
“We hope the team will do us proud,” he said.
