LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Local soccer fans will have several opportunities to come together and celebrate the start of the World Cup this week through a series of watch parties hosted by Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC.
The festivities begin Thursday with an opening celebration on the Great Lawn as supporters gather to kick off the tournament.
Fans can then return Friday night to watch the United States face Paraguay in its opening match. The weekend continues Saturday with another watch party at Fourth Street Live! featuring Brazil taking on Morocco.
Louisville City goalkeeper Ryan Troutman joined WDRB Mornings to talk about what it means for the United States to host the World Cup and why the tournament creates a unique atmosphere for fans.
"You get to feel the atmosphere," Troutman said. "This sport is so different from other sports. You get to see the passion from the fans and what it means to people watching the games."
Organizers hope the watch parties will give Louisville soccer supporters a chance to experience some of that excitement together, even if they aren't attending matches in person.
A full list of local watch parties is available on Louisville City FC's website. Fans can also catch many World Cup matches on WDRB.
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