San Antonio was abuzz with World Cup fever as Toyota Field hosted a pre-tournament friendly between Senegal and Saudi Arabia. The match was a unique opportunity for local fans to see international-caliber soccer players in action.

Local Fans Excited

David Gonzalez, director of a local youth football club, said the match was a notable opportunity for his club’s players. "Our kids walked out with both teams during the national anthem," he said. "It was a unique experience for the club."

Jose Lizardo, operations director at Toyota Field, said planning to bring Senegal and Saudi Arabia to San Antonio started three years ago. "We built relationships with some of the nations that were interested," he said. "Saudi Arabia was one of the teams that came down a couple times and was considering using our facilities."

Watch Parties and Events

Plenty of San Antonio venues plan on welcoming fans over the next five weeks as fans seek places to watch and cheer on their favorite teams. The Rock at La Cantera will show U.S. games and some knockout games later on in the tournament. Pearl is hosting watch parties for more than a dozen games in June and July.

The Broadway corridor seems to be a hot spot for San Antonio’s soccer watchers. The Cottage Irish Pub and Eatery on Broadway will show games throughout the tournament. Even businesses that don’t usually sell food or drink are getting excited, with The Soccer Factory co-hosting a watch party for the World Cup’s opening game.

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.