The World Cup is a time for soccer fans to rally behind their favorite nations, and local bars are helping them have fun.
The Cooler, Villard St. Pub and Taylor’s Bar and Grille are three of the biggest spots to watch the games, which started on June 11 and will culminate on July 11.
In fact, during the group matches, where the original 32 participating countries were lumped into groups of four, the Cooler opened its doors at 4:30 a.m. to broadcast the live games in South Africa.
Even Taylor’s is opening its doors earlier than usual at 7 a.m. for the games that take place at 4 p.m. in the hosting nation, South Africa, which has a nine-hour difference from the West Coast.
“We’re doing this because there is a lot of international students who don’t have a TV,” Taylor’s bartender Jordan Hodges said. “We’re trying to cater to students in a way. Plus, World Cup is the biggest sporting match in the world. It’s bigger than the Olympics.”
Hodges added that he’s noticed fan turn-out for games depends on the region on where the playing teams are from, which is what most other bars have noticed, as well. The biggest games so far are ones in which the U.S. is playing, and although the U.S. is now out of cup after its 1-2 defeat by Ghana on Saturday, bartenders are still seeing devoted fans coming to watch the games.
“Now that the USA team lost (on Saturday), we won’t see as great of a crowd,” Cooler bartender Priscilla Clements said. “But the people who do come here are very committed.”
Clements also said that people showed up at the 4:30 a.m. games, despite the fact that Oregon liquor laws prohibit alcohol being sold from 2:30 to 7 a.m.
“People would be lounging out on the sofas watching and drinking coffee and being mellow,” Clements said.
USA fans are even fans of other teams participating in the World Cup.
Dennisha Baillargeon, a Dexter resident, is also rooting for the Netherlands based on his Dutch heritage.
“I think they play the most beautiful game out of the rest of the European teams,” Baillargeon said. “Their passing game is better than any other team.”
Chase Kepler, a recent University graduate, was decked out in the USA jersey for the USA versus Slovenia game in Taylor’s at 7 a.m. Though he was also rooting for England, he was there to see his country play.
“I’m a major fan of the domestic league (soccer), but there is a certain passion in rooting for your country that doesn’t come out at other times,” Kepler said. “This is why the World Cup is special.”
Soccer fans embrace the sport for many reasons, including that it’s a game that is played internationally and that the sport’s style makes it distinct.
“There’s no game like it,” University graduate Kyle Rehder said. “There is a flow, unlike (American) football. I wish the country could embrace it.”
Ignacio Valdez, a Eugene resident, rooted for Mexico in the Argentina versus Mexico game yesterday at the Cooler.
“(World Cup) is the event of the world,” Valdez said. “Everyone can play. It’s not just for rich people. It’s played everywhere, unlike basketball, (American) football, baseball.”
There are many theories as to why soccer isn’t as popular of a sport in the U.S. as it is abroad, and soccer fans have their own opinions as to why “the beautiful game” isn’t big in the States.
“I think it’s just the consciousness hasn’t gotten here yet,” Baillargeon said.
Ultimately, soccer fans converge in bars around town because of the atmosphere to be found among people of similar fanaticism.
“It’s more fun watching a soccer game with other people,” Kepler said. “Plus, there’s beer.”

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