World Cup match against the United States

During England’s first-round World Cup match against the United States, the “special relationship’s” constraints were on full show as New York soccer supporters struggled with their dual allegiances to European club sports and the US national team.

A nil-nil outcome didn’t show much in the end, except from the fact that it was decidedly un-American. David Dunbar, a professor of New York history at Columbia University, once claimed that wearing a tie was like kissing your sister. In America, you have to triumph. We struggle with dichotomies, and the word ambiguity is negative because it worries us.

Many people said the game, in which a win for England would have guaranteed a place in the second round while a loss for the US would have made further progress in Qatar difficult, inspired mixed feelings – but only to a certain extent – at the packed-out English bar Dog & Bone on Manhattan’s Third Avenue.

Every team must always come out on top. You can’t enter this with a mixed perspective because qualifying is more certain, according to London-based Chelsea fan Kevin Clarke, who noted that the domestic game is gaining popularity in the US.

A historical score-settling undertone could be extrapolated from any matchup between two nations with linked histories, as would be the case here.

Before the 90 minutes were complete, Jordan Fox, a 19-year-old Leicester City fan, stated, “I’d rather see England lose than I’d rather see America win.” It’s the entire colonial, tea party stuff. I’d be happy if it never “comes home” again because you guys never expressed regret.

After the 6-2 victory [against Iran], Scott Robertson, owner of the Dog & Bone, observed, “It felt like a loss.” He continued, “He played not to lose,” saying that Southgate’s team didn’t play to win. But it had at least been beneficial for trade. “As a business owner, I’m content as long as we both succeed,”

A victory for the US national teamwould have proven that the sport is correctly referred to as soccer and not football, according to Kazakhstani medical student Kamila Bergaliyeva. Bergaliyeva did not anticipate a US triumph.

British supporters

“We’re here even though we know we’ll probably lose. She continued, “But if we win, we want to be here for it. It’s exciting to see so many British supporters breaking their reputation for emotional restraint. Very unusual, Bergaliyeva remarked.

Nearly all of the customers at Fitzgerald’s Pub next door supported the United States. The outcome of the game matters more to the US national team “because you guys have been doing it for so long – it’s your national game,” Dunbar said as the scoreless halftime interval approached.

When the US national team last defeated England, Dunbar’s father had been a member of the American team. That occurred in 1950. He continued, “The soccer subculture in America is now established. “The US performed well, and we’re a young team aiming to make a name for ourselves in the future. We are planning four years out.

For the USA to advance, they must defeat Iran right away, a match that will have its own unique political and historical complexities.