Detroit soccer fans are braving temperatures in the mid-90s to root on the U.S. men’s national soccer team in the first knockout round of the 2026 World Cup.
Detroit City FC, the city’s professional soccer club, is hosting a watch party at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, giving Metro Detroiters a chance to gather with fellow fans and watch as the U.S. takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina live from the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Luke Brown of Ypsilanti found a patriotic way to beat the heat as he showed up to the watch party shirtless, sporting a torso painted red, white and blue. He said it took him about an hour to complete the look and he was hopeful the favored Americans would strike early against their opponents.
More: USA World Cup Live: Win or go home for USMNT vs Bosnia
“We can’t play down to the opponent,” he said. “Only one game has been a runaway so we’ve got to play to our strengths and just keep our foot on the gas.”
Among the crowd of red, white and blue was a smattering of Bosnian blue and yellow.
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Juma Ekic, a Bloomfield Township resident originally from Bosnia, said her rooting interests were split.
“This is such a tough situation,” said Ekic, who owns the Balkan House eatery in Ferndale. “Bosnia is my home, my roots. USA gave me a home and freedom … Actually, we’re all going to win tonight!”
The U.S. advanced to the knockout rounds by winning its group with a 2-1-0 record, beating Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0 before falling to Turkiye 2-3.
A loss tonight will end either squad’s World Cup run. The winner will play Belgium in the round of 16.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: World Cup fans brave heat, watch USA at watch party in downtown Detroit
