World Cup Brings Cheer To Fans In Juarez

By ABC-7’s Angela Kocherga

Soccer fans were up early watching the first game of the 2010 World Cup, featuring Mexico and South Africa. The World Cup is a welcome escape for Juarez, with the matches uniting fans on both sides of the border.

Fans crowded El Paso bars at breakfast time to cheer for Mexico, and long after lunch, across the border, some still celebrated on the streets of Juarez.

Mexico tied South Africa in the opening game of the World Cup, but fans here were pleased with the players’ performance.

The staff at one Juarez pharmacy had team spirit in a city that could use a dose of good cheer. The World Cup offers a badly needed break from all the bad news, from the relentless violence in the city to the killing of a 15-year-old by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on the banks of the Rio Grande.

The shooting has strained U.S – Mexico relations, but fans on the border are banding together to support each other’s teams. “We’re neighbors,” said one man – neighbors who share hope both the U.S. and Mexico will advance in the World Cup.

The U.S. plays England Saturday, June 12 at noon. You can watch the game right here on ABC-7, with coverage beginning at 11:30 a.m.