In a region that boasts vast technological wealth and global corporate influence, the San Francisco Bay Area’s modest World Cup schedule was met with dismay, prompting complaints from fans about the lack of marquee games.
While Kansas City hosted Argentina and Boston hosted England, residents of the San Francisco region were content with a more specific set of nations, with Switzerland, number 16 in the world rankings, being the highest-ranked visitor in five matches so far.
For Arab football enthusiasts, it has been a true gold mine, with Qatar, Algeria and Jordan (twice) attending the stadium of the San Francisco 49ers, from the NFL (American football league).
With fans on social media calling the fixture list the least glamorous of the 11 US host cities, a dearth of nightlife near the stadium in sleepy Santa Clara and little expectation ahead of the tournament, there were fears of a failure in the region.
“The World Cup was supposed to be a smashing success in the San Francisco Bay Area. Why does it feel like a failure?” asked a headline in the San Francisco Chronicle days before the tournament.
Since then, the narrative has changed, with audiences turning out in droves for all five matches.
“I follow European football, so I was definitely disappointed. I would have liked to have seen more balance in the teams here, out of self-interest,” James Fay, a former chief financial officer of a technology company, told Reuters at the match between Australia and Paraguay on Thursday (25).
“But having a World Cup here is fantastic, there was no chance of me missing it. I couldn’t go in 1994, this is my first World Cup, so I’m going no matter what.”
DIFFERENT FANDOM
Fay was among a crowd of 68,827, a few hundred below the stadium’s maximum capacity for the tournament, which was 69,391.
The lowest attendance recorded by the organizers was 67,966 people, in the first match, between Switzerland and Qatar.
In all games, neutral fans attended in large numbers.
A huge ovation from the Americans at the game between Australia and Paraguay echoed when the electronic scoreboard displayed a goal update during the simultaneous match between the United States and Türkiye.
Mexican fans from San José and other large Latino communities in the South Bay region attended enthusiastically, particularly Paraguay’s two games.
“It has been incredible to see the diversity and international fanaticism that has come to the Bay and participated in the fan marches, attended the games and experienced all that we have to offer,” the Bay Area Organizing Committee said in an email to Reuters.
Nick Zhang, a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, traveled with two friends to the Australia v Paraguay game and paid US$330 (R$1,707) for a ticket that put him in the highest section of the stadium, under the strong afternoon sun.
“Well, a game was on and we just wanted to get the experience. We’re up there but we can still get a taste of it,” he told Reuters.
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Once criticized for its “boring” schedule, the San Francisco Bay Area is now turning things around, preparing to host co-hosts the United States this Wednesday (1st), in a round of 32 clash against Bosnia. It will be the last at the stadium in the World Cup.
Ticket prices soared on resale platforms, with the cheapest on StubHub being offered for almost US$2,000 (R$10,343).
Outside the stadium, organizers are preparing a huge party in the main fan area in San Pedro square in San José, installing a fourth “giant screen” for the knockout game.
According to the Bay Area Organizing Committee, more than 350,000 people have visited the square since the start of the World Cup.
“Some unexpected teams came to town, but the USA will be a great ending to the party,” James Martinez, a local student, told Reuters at Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium).
