World Cup fanfare continues on-Island 

El Barco was packed with red, white, and blue on Monday night as U.S. fans watched until the final minute when their team fell to Belgium 4-1. But throughout the past week, spirits were otherwise high at the Tisbury eatery as other local favorites, like Norway and England, cleared the round of 16 on Sunday and Monday night. 

A loss for the U.S national team ended their tournament run, but the host nation proved their right to be in the knockout rounds with several upset matches. The U.S. beat Paraguay 4–1 on June 12, Australia 2–0 on June 19, and Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–0 on July 1 to make it to the round of 16, where they eventually fell to Belgium. The defeat was preceded by a controversial red card reversal on U.S. forward Folarin Balogun that reportedly stemmed from a call by U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Sunday also delivered plenty of drama at El Barco. Norway stunned Brazil 2–1, with Norwegian supporters erupting early when the score went up to 2–0. Brazilian soccer legend Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot, but Norway held firm to advance. 

Brazil’s exit hit especially hard for fans watching nearby at Vineyard Grill, one of the most popular spots for fans to enjoy the game and authentic Brazilian food. 

Vineyard Grill manager Marcus Nascimento noted the team was not only young and inexperienced in some areas, but they also had key players injured. 

Nascimento said that Brazil’s Éder Militão, one of the best defenders from Real Madrid, was injured; Rodrygo Silva de Goes, also from Real Madrid, was injured, and Estêvão Willian, a striker for Chelsea and Brazil’s best striker, was also out with an injury. 

“I’m glad they can go home to practice. They need it,” said Nascimento about the team. 

Despite the tough end of the tournament, Nascimento said that he did see some hunger in the Brazil team’s eyes when they beat Japan, and when they almost came back in the game against Mexico. 

“They didn’t have it in the qualification rounds, but when they beat Japan, they had that hunger,” Nascimento said.

The same evening that U.S. fans at El Barco watched their team fall to Belgium after advancing through multiple upsets in qualifying rounds, England defeated Mexico in a thriller. They took the win 3-2 in front of a mix of England and Mexico fans, who filled the bar until late night on Sunday.

The results of the game set up quarterfinal matches between Norway and England on Saturday, July 11, at 5 pm, as well as Belgium and Spain on Friday, July 10, at 3 pm.

El Barco served as a lively World Cup hub throughout the tournament, drawing fans from across the Island and world to celebrate and groan over their teams with friends. 

On Tuesday this week, Islanders also saw Egypt fall to powerhouse Argentina in a close 3-2 match. Egypt held the lead into the final minutes, but Argentina scored once at 83 minutes, and another at three minutes into extra time to take the win. 

Across town, a young Egypt supporter, Luke El-diery, watched with his dad as his team fell to Argentina. The family was emotional after the game. “I was crying, and then my mom asked me who won. Now, I have no teams,” El-diery said. “I had Egypt and the U.S., and now, they’re both gone.” 

“It was a really good game. I didn’t expect Egypt to hold up against Argentina,” he added about Egypt’s “tough loss.” 

With the World Cup moving onto the quarterfinals matches this weekend, and the U.S. out, fans around the Island are going to be looking ahead to the next chance to gather for soccer and good company.