World Cup fever kicks into high gear
Jim Taylor says his boss knows to not even bother attempting to contact him this week.
The Robinson native doesn’t make a living around the game of soccer, but those who know him well enough understand that Monday afternoon was something Mr. Taylor and the 350 other supporters within the group he manages had been waiting on for quite some time.
While clean cut and well spoken, Mr. Taylor was one of many inside the packed watch party at Mike’s Beer Bar on Federal Street who identified as an “Outlaw.”
In about 30 minutes, the United States Men’s National Team was
set for its first of three matches in group play in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Members of the team’s supporters group, including Mr. Taylor, president of the Outlaws Pittsburgh chapter, sipped their beers while staring at the television screens anxiously until the match began.
Mr. Taylor and his friend Geoff Meyer did their best to stay optimistic, as the minutes ticked away. They highlighted all the positives that can be found on the USMNT’s roster and thanked the heavens the group was able to overcome the embarrassment of missing the tournament in 2018.
“We were at the bar at Highmark Stadium, watching and expecting them to qualify,” Mr. Meyer, a Gibsonia resident, said. “It was devastating.”
One by one, soccer fans piled into the organized viewing event. Mike Sukitch, the establishment’s owner, did his best to find everyone a seat.
With his bar located across the street from PNC Park, Mr. Sukitch is more than familiar with hosting big sporting events, but he said this one is a bit different. Having lived in Europe for 20 years throughout his life, Mr. Sukitch understands the significance of the World Cup.
He saw the excitement first-hand when France celebrated its championship in 2018. And though he doesn’t expect the U.S. to take home the golden trophy at the tournament’s end, he, like his patrons, was rooting for a victory Monday afternoon against Wales.
As the starting lineups were announced and the national anthems were sung, hundreds of patrons found a seat. Some came in groups, others came alone, knowing a collective sense of camaraderie awaited.
“This is why you have to love the World Cup,” Mr. Taylor says. “Stuff like this, it brings people together.”
A high table near the front left corner of the bar exemplified what comradery Taylor is talking about.
Huddled around drinks and appetizers were a group of strangers, who in minutes, will soon chant, chat and celebrate together as though they’ve been friends for years.
At one end of the table was Zach Krol and Greg Le Donne from Moon. Mr. Le Donne tuned out some of the pregame discussion with other fans as he attempted to finish some reports on his laptop.
He wasn’t the only one at the table who took his work day to the bar. Across from Mr. Le Donne was Andy Howcroft, of Mars, who spent the majority of the first half on his phone in the midst of a meeting with his sales staff.
The three joked around how hard they’re working and exchanged a few stories about their personal glory days of high school soccer.
Sitting at the other end of the table was Steve Estes and his father-in-law Pat Forrest. Both are from the North Hills. Steve loves soccer and Pat loves sports, so the two fit right in with their younger crowd members.
In the early moments of the match, the once loud and electric atmosphere fell silent. The place has been open since 8 a.m., when Mr. Sukitch said a few England fans were there to root on their team against Iran.
But now, at its fullest, the U.S. crowd waited for a reason to erupt.
At the 36-minute mark, the supporters finally get a taste of a high that has been eight years in the making.
Hope rose as Hershey native Christian Pulisic was seen making a break toward the net. The player fans call “Wonderboy” then finds his teammate Tim Weah on a beautiful pass, which the 22year-old promptly put past Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. Before the ball found the back of the net, the entire crowd explodes in joy.
High-fives, fist-bumps and hugs were shared by all. There was still plenty of match remaining, but right then it doesn’t matter — for the first time since 2014, the United States was on the scoreboard in a men’s World Cup match.
Across town, on a quiet street in Morningside, an entirely different group of fans celebrated the goal inside the Bulldog Pub. Unlike Mike’s Bar Bar on the North Shore, which has plenty of space to maneuver around, those inside the cozy neighborhood establishment were pressed shoulder to shoulder for the match.
Behind the bar, dressed in an American flag robe, “USA Drinking team” sweatpants, a shirt that reads “IT’S CALLED SOCCER,” and an Uncle Sam hat is the pub’s owner, Jesse DiRenzo.
After growing up two blocks away from where the pub stands, Mr. DiRenzo took control of the establishment in 2016.
Over the years, the pub’s most frequent patrons have pressured Jesse and his brother/partner Joe into making the Bulldog into a true soccer pub.
In the midst of all the chaos, Mr. DiRenzo stopped to take a look around and realized that has come to fruition.
“It’s a Monday in Morningside,” Mr. DiRenzo said. “We packed the bar. To see the place packed with more than half of the faces being new people, it’s awesome. It’s everything you dream of when you open a pub.”
One of those frequent patrons is Emilio Cano. After growing up in New York, Mr. Cano and his pals have found a home at Bulldogs, where they not only know the entire staff, but they also assist in efforts to make days like Monday happen.
Hanging inside the Bulldog were flags from every country represented in the World Cup. A large bracket with the date and time of every group play matchup was posted on the pub’s back wall. Out back in a white makeshift tent are dozens of more soccer fans, watching the match on a projector screen.
The second half was a tense, 45-minute ride at the Bulldog. With the U.S. team leading 1-0, fans watched nervously, hoping the U.S. could hold on.
In the 80th minute, their worst fear came to life: Gareth Bale, Wales’ most notable star, was taken down in the box, drawing a penalty kick. Mr. Bale delivered the late goal that ultimately resulted in the match ending in a 1-1 tie.
When the final whistle blew, the jam-packed crowd dispersed.
“Guess it’s time to head back to work,” one fan joked to another as they made their way out the door.
After about 20 minutes, just the loyal customers remained.
“Being on your feet like that and getting your ass whipped for three hours, I wouldn’t compare what they do to what I do, but it’s definitely a workout,” Mr. DiRenzo said. “Thank God for my staff in there. We were swamped, but I think we handled it well. Hopefully everyone had a drink and had a good time.”
Mr. DiRenzo was upset about the tie, saying numerous times that it “wasn’t the result we wanted.” Yet, after a few drags of a cigarette and a couple gulps of pop, his thoughts were already on the next match — 2 p.m. Friday against England.
“There’s nothing better than trolling the English,” Mr. DiRenzo said with a smile. “I think we’re in for a great match. I don’t want to jinx anything, but I think what we saw today is going to be even more amplified.”
Similar to Mike’s Beer Bar, Mr. DiRenzo says the Bulldog Pub will be open bright and early Friday morning for all fans to come and watch the world’s game together.