Spokane, WASH — Hundreds of soccer fans filled No-Li Brewhouse’s beer hall Wednesday night to cheer on the U.S. men’s national team against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a World Cup match.
“The atmosphere is unreal, it’s unlike anything I’ve seen here in the United States,” said Nathan, a USMNT fan at the watch party. “This World Cup is different, Spokane is different, it is incredible.”
Some attendees were so committed to watching the match that they brought their work with them. Ellen Kjobech said she and her colleagues decided to stay productive while securing a good spot for the game.
“We had some things to do so I figured we might as well stay proactive but we wanted to get a good spot for the game as well,” Kjobech said.
The communal experience resonated with attendees. Naj Ataiee emphasized the value of experiencing the game alongside others: “This is exciting, I love to be around the crowd. I love watching the games around the people.”
For some fans, the watch party marked a turning point in soccer’s acceptance within American culture. One fan expressed optimism about the sport’s growing prominence.
“I feel like we’ve finally gotten to a space where this sport is finally accepted here in the states and celebrated for what it is,” Nathan said. “This is the place, I never expected it to be like this, it’s unbelievable.”
John Bryant, owner of No-Li Brewhouse, views such events as opportunities to strengthen community bonds and elevate Spokane’s profile.
“You see these events materializing at the No-Li beer hall and other places around town and it’s a sense of belonging, it’s a sense of pride,” Bryant said. “It’s putting us not only on the national map but the world map.”
The U.S. men’s national team faces Belgium on Monday, July 6th, in Seattle.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
