Football fever is taking over South Florida. The region is just days away from the first game played at the Miami stadium, a matchup between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia set for Monday, June 15, and for the local Uruguayan community the anticipation is only intensifying.
One of those counting down the days is Gabriel Eloy Carrizo, a coach and former player of the Uruguayan national team. He is eager to see the team from his country of origin take the field in South Florida, the place he now calls home.
For more than 20 years, Carrizo has shared his passion for soccer by coaching children at a park in South Miami. He says that what he teaches is not only about technique, about how to kick the ball with the inside or outside of the foot, but about the dream and the spirit of the game.
The excitement is just as strong among local fans. Ismael Petroni said he paid more than 400 dollars for a ticket to see Uruguay play on June 15, the first time in his life that he will attend a World Cup, and he added that 15 members of his family are going to the match together.
For many Uruguayans, soccer is described simply as life. The last time Uruguay won a World Cup was back in 1950, and the dream of lifting the trophy again still lives on among supporters who have waited generations for another title.
Beyond the result on the pitch, the build-up has become a celebration of pride, tradition and food. The steak sandwich, presented as the national dish, is one of the staples that fans gather around, served at a Uruguayan restaurant in the Westchester area.
According to the restaurant's owner, the soccer euphoria began about a month before the World Cup. For those who will not be able to make it to the stadium, the venue plans to welcome them to watch the match together, turning the game into a shared community celebration.