Belizeans Pick Sides for World Cup Final

Belizeans may not have a team in the World Cup final, but that is not stopping fans from choosing sides like everything is on the line. This weekend, Argentina and Spain meet in a blockbuster showdown, and across the country, supporters are preparing for the big game with flags, jerseys and watch parties. News Five’s Paul Lopez went out to ask fans where they will be watching and which team they think will walk away as champion.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

“One of the biggest football matches in the world takes place this weekend when Argentina faces Spain. Where are you going to be watching and who will be supporting? We went out to find out where people were watching, who is hosting the watch parties? And our first stop is at a church, Life Church.”

 

Corny Dueck, Pastor, Life Church

“My sons are all into football and from last World Cup to now they been all crazy about football and play in clubs in the city and so as it was coming closer we said hey, we are all about family in the church. And if you are going to watch it home alone, why not come together to the church and have a family party, watch together and enjoy the competition. We all like competition, right? We have the replica ball of the world matches. We will have a chart of ninety squares and each square is a minute. So before the game start, you are going to pay a five dollars fee per square and you can put your name and the minute that you believe is going to be the first goal. At the end, whoever’s name is in the first goal, if its more than one person it will be spin the wheel to win. McDonald world cups and we have the different names and different players. This one is Yamen Lamal. So we have six of those where we will have an auction and you say how much you want to pay.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And if you are leaning more towards visiting a lounge, a bar or a restaurant to enjoy their watch party event, then you may consider a venue like Social Lounge.”

 

George Jones, Public Relations, Social Lounge

“First of all we bring the technology. We are newest on the spot, but if you look around, I am running out of TVs and all. So, we are quite loaded. At full capacity everyone has a view from every angle. So, one o’clock on Sunday for the World Cup final people can come here for great food, great company, I have on the jacket right now because it gets quite cool in here. So its going to be an event. This is going to be one for the history books. I don’t know if you heard of the Messi, Yamal connection, either way it is a win. It is a win for football fans and that is what we are looking forward to.”

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

“So we have gone from the church to Social Lounge and now we are out in the streets to find out where people are going to be watching this World Cup final and who they will be supporting.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Weh part you the watch the World Cup finals this week?”

 

Football Fan #1

“Dah mih house.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What will that situation look like?”

 

Football Fan #1

“I mussy wah buy a two drink and watch it.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Who you the support from Argentina and Spain.”

 

Football Fan #1

“Argentina of course, because of Messi, the greatest.”

 

Football Fan #2

“We are going to go to a place where you can cheer and have fun, and we are voting for Argentina all the way.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Weh part you the watch it?

 

Football Fan #3

“Home.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So who you the support out of Argentina and Spain?”

 

Football Fan #3

“Messi.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Why?”

 

Football Fan #3

“Because Messi dah the goat.”

 

Football Fan #4

“Spain, Spain, Spain

 

Paul Lopez

“Why unu the support Spain when lots of people support Argentina and Messi?”

 

Football Fan #4

“Because Argentina the thief, Messi the thief in general. Because they deh thief, deh the thief my dog Lamine Yamal.”

 

Football Fan #5

“Go Spain, Yeah!”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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