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Today in U.S., Strong Interest in World Cup

Aired June 5, 2002 - 06:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: World Cup Soccer is always an international event. Oh, but today in this country, there is strong interest, because the U.S. team is on the field, and it's winning.

CNN's Elaine Quijano has the latest from Arlington, Virginia, where at least one suburban bar is staying open around the clock to accommodate the fans and the time difference. The games are being played in Asia. In fact, they are going on right now. The U.S. is up 3 to 1. Can you believe it?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Carol.

You are absolutely right. These fans are glued to the screens here, and not too long ago when the U.S. scored, this place went wild. About 300 people have packed the place here. It's a capacity crowd. In fact, so many people want to get in, let me show what you what it looks like on the outside. Dozens of people are outside looking in the windows to try and get a glimpse of the game going on.

Now, these diehard fans got up in the middle of the night to try and cheer the U.S. on to victory.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO (voice-over): Thirty-two countries competing and billions watching around the globe. It's the world's most popular sporting event, and if you have caught World Cup fever, you need to come to places like Summers Bar and Restaurant in northern Virginia. Though it's time zones away from the action in South Korea and Japan, for the games, it's open all night so fans can get their soccer fix.

Many who come here in the middle of the night to watch both live and taped games come for the camaraderie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These games are available at home, but they come from other states. They just want to sit together and watch it.

QUIJANO: Here, the customers aren't the only ones bleary eyed. The sleep-deprived staff sacrifices rest, some working steady six hour shifts with only two breaks in between for sleep.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it is tough, but coffee would take care of it.

QUIJANO: For fans, adrenaline and a love of the game provide plenty of fuel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the pace. It's sort of the elegance of the game, because it's actually 18 men, and there is very little stoppage, and it just keeps on moving.

QUIJANO: For others, the spectacle of high-level international competition is the biggest draw.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's bringing together different teams from different countries that generally don't have anything to do with each other. It makes it just interesting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: And the crowd outside looking in very subdued right now, but I can tell you at moments, the noise here is deafening. The roar of the crowd makes you feel like you are in a stadium here in this little bar.

Now, as for the U.S.'s chances, as you watch these people here glued to the screen, are actually not the favorites. In fact, during the 1998 World Cup in France -- I hate to mention this -- we actually came in 32nd out of 32 teams. It doesn't seem to matter to these fans however. If you ask them, they would say if anything, it's motivation this time around.

We are live in Arlington, Virginia. I am Elaine Quijano -- Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Elaine, that guy behind you, he looks very nervous.

QUIJANO: You know what? It's so funny, because when Portugal actually scored a goal not too long ago, there was screaming, blood curdling screams. There is actually a little table out in the back. You probably wouldn't be able to see it, because there are just too many people. But a little table that is cordoned off for the Portuguese fans, and I must say, they are vastly outnumbered here this morning -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Again, the USA team is up 3 to 1 over Portugal, who is heavily favored to win the game. Are they serving alcohol there at this hour, Elaine?

QUIJANO: That was a great question. Actually at 1:55 this morning, by law they had to stop serving alcohol, and so these folks are not inebriated. But at 7:00 a.m., they start pouring the suds again, and I have no doubt some of these guys will be reaching for them, especially if the U.S. pulls out a victory this morning -- Carol.

COSTELLO: 7:00 a.m. huh?

QUIJANO: 7:00 a.m. Eastern.

COSTELLO: Nothing like a good beer at 7:00 a.m. QUIJANO: That's exactly right. Well, these folks have been up all night, some of them. So it's really more like dinner to them -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Got you. OK. Thank you very much -- Elaine Quijano reporting live from Arlington, Virginia.

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