Photo courtesy: Sophie Vega
Every four years, nations from all around the globe come together to compete against each other in one of the most prestigious football tournaments of all time.
While America is not known for their soccer fandom, the World Cup still seems to have affected the student body at UTRGV. Every one of these students has different reasons to watch, those traditionally invested and those not.
For the past few days students have come to see the World Cup. Tables, balconies and even the Game Room have been filled with onlookers as soccer players compete against each other half a world away.
Freshman biomedical student Moises Garcia holds the event in high regard because of the World Cup’s rare appearance making it more appealing.
“It is a special event, I believe. It’s kind of like a thing where it’s a compromise, un compromiso. I [would] do everything around the World Cup just to see it because it does happen once every four years. I have to and enjoy every moment of it,” Garcia said.
Student Union employee and senior nutrition science student Sophie Vega has a first hand account of how she’s been caught up in the event and the passion and interest of the student body.
“Everybody gets excited,” Vega said. “ The whole room just lit up. Even the people not watching the game, they looked at the screen, they always had to see when someone was screaming… People would come from outside. If they heard screaming, people would run inside The Sala to see if they got a goal or not.”
The World Cup may mean even more for international student and UTRGV Men’s Soccer Club President Hillary Abiagom.
“Soccer is everything to Africans. For me soccer is everything. Apart from studies and working out, soccer has been my next agenda. I just love it.”.
Many students did not shy away from the practices that seem to consistently come with the event, considering the current situation with Qatar.
Sophie Vega had her own thoughts on the events. “I do feel strongly for them and I do worry for the people there. I’ve heard of teams having their version of protesting. I wish them the best of luck. …I wish protection for them. I wish there could have been something better,” Vega said.
Despite all this, the World Cup remains a global phenomena and it has certainly affected several members of the student body at UTRGV.
While much remains to be determined about the tournament and its outcome, the support and enthusiasm from UTRGV students remains intact.
