Soccer, football, futbol… No matter what you call it, the sport involving a black-and-white ball and fancy footwork is universally beloved by children and adults alike.

    Certainly, nearly every American teen can say that his or her parents stuck them in a pee-wee soccer team at one point or another in their lives. It’s a staple in any physical education teacher’s yearly lesson plan. Whether played with a plastic bag filled with fabric or a shiny, professional-level latex and butyl ball, the game of soccer — or football, as any non-American would call it — has been around for ages and will be around for a long while to come. It’s no wonder, then, that the FIFA World Cup is a huge deal for nearly every person with access to a television. This year, the 20th FIFA World Cup men’s soccer tournament is taking place in Brazil as I type!

    Held every four years, the World Cup is arguably as significant a sporting event as the Olympic Games. Once every four years, soccer fans across the globe dust off their country flags and pull out their face paint to celebrate the games with sometimes overzealous patriotism. While most of us will be camped out in front of the television for the next couple of weeks, hardcore fans have flocked to Rio de Janeiro to watch the games in person.

    Large open venues like Times Square in New York City are displaying the games on screens for the public to watch together in the streets. My mother told me that even though China doesn’t have a team in the World Cup, many citizens still stay up through the wee hours of the morning watching the games — just as crazed as the rest of us are about soccer.

    Last week, the United States played against Portugal, the latter of which had previously lost 4-0 to Germany. My entire family, dog and all, settled down in front of the television to watch the game while we ate dinner. Needless to say, it was so intense that I could hardly focus on eating! There were so many close shots, saves made by the tips of the goalies’ fingers, and, of course, four beautifully made goals. Each time the United States scored, my friends and I would go crazy on social networking, posting statuses and photos and essentially screaming to each other in insane displays of American pride. The tight game was 2-1 with the United States in the lead up until the last 10 seconds; then, Portugal miraculously scored, effectively tying the game. We Americans were so sure of the win that when the second Portuguese goal went in, we didn’t even know how to react! It was a letdown, but better than losing.

    Win or lose, the soccer players are absolutely amazing; the way they move, the speed at which they run and the accuracy with which they shoot, the methods by which they communicate with each other and react on the spot to wherever the ball is headed… it’s mesmerizing to watch! Not to mention the fact that they will be playing in 90-degree (Fahrenheit) weather throughout the tournament. Whether or not the United States makes it through the next game, I know I’ll be watching the games, armed with popcorn and my American spirit, as these players battle it out for the ultimate victory. May the odds be ever in your favor, futbol fans!