Melted Ice Makes Way for Fever Pitch at FIFA Under-20 World Cup

July 9, 2007

By IAN AUSTEN

OTTAWA, July 8 — Even in the capital of a country that celebrates the cultures of immigrants, the sight of a dozen men pounding ramshackle drums inside a crushing circle of dancers sporting baby blue and white fright wigs and holding exploding Roman candles was exceptional.

But that victory demonstration outside Frank Clair Stadium last week by supporters of Argentina’s junior national soccer team was just one of the many surprises that have come with the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, being played this month in Ottawa and five other Canadian cities.

Not least of which has been the popularity of the junior tournament in a nation otherwise dominated by hockey. Last week, tickets sales for the tournament, which ends on July 22 in Toronto, surpassed 1 million, nearly twice the sales in the previous host nation, the Netherlands. Organizers in Canada are confident they can break the record of 1.15 million set by Mexico in 1983.

“Planning for a million people was not the expectation,” said the director of the tournament, Peter Montopoli. “But it’s the one opportunity to see the highest level of soccer that could be brought to this country outside of the women’s World Cup.”

Officials from FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, have also been impressed by the reception.

“It’s like a dream come true,” said John Schumacher, a FIFA spokesman. “It’s gone far beyond our expectations.”

Canadians are not the only ones taking advantage of the opportunity. Some of the stadiums are within easy driving distance of the United States.

Marty Carvalho packed six friends and relatives in his van and drove to Ottawa from Ludlow, Mass., an 800-mile round trip, on Friday to watch the United States defeat Brazil.

“This is awesome,” Carvalho said. “Usually to see something like this you’d have to go to Europe and it costs thousands of dollars.”

For some soccer fans, the under-20 tournament has been overshadowed by the more prominent Copa América, which is being played in Venezuela. Copa América, however, ends on Sunday, a week before the under-20 World Cup does, which may let the Canadian competition move to the foreground.

The under-20 tournament has some of the trappings of the World Cup, like the pregame flag rituals and gift exchanges. Supporters of teams from Europe and South America have also imported their traditions as fans.

“These are passionate people,” Johnathon Van Dyk said on Friday as an energetic Brazilian samba band a few rows above him in the stadium roused fans into a rolling cheer. “This is crazy. The fans here are really into it.”

Van Dyk is excited about the competition, too. He flew from San Francisco to attend games in Ottawa and Montreal, and said he would probably make a trip to Toronto.

“My friends are jealous,” he said. “They’re all married.”

The passion of fans for teams like Brazil sometimes overwhelms that of supporters of the United States. On Friday, attempts to chant “U.S.A.” were quickly jeered down or overwhelmed by the Brazilian rhythm section. The sea of flags and chants that greeted Brazil’s single goal made the Americans’ efforts seem almost feeble.

The fans from the United States had the last word. Jozy Altidore scored two goals as the United States defeated Brazil, 2-1, and won its first-round group.

The attraction of the tournament is not just its atmosphere. Van Dyk said that compared to the under-20 games, professional soccer games in the United States seem “like children’s league play.”

The under-20 tournament also features several elite young players. In addition to Altidore, the United States team has Freddy Adu. Alexandre Pato of Brazil lured scouts from several major European teams.

For Ofori Sarkodie, a defender with the United States team, the under-20 tournament is “something on another level” compared with other competitions. Having family and supporters from the United States in the stands has also been a boost.

“It’s a good feeling,” Sarkodie said. “It’s an incentive to push a little harder.”

Despite the tournament’s popularity, tickets are still available.

Montopoli suggested that fans check Edmonton, Alberta, which has the tournament’s largest stadium. Edmonton, however, is the most distant game site from the United States border.

Some tickets for later rounds of play in Ottawa and Montreal will be released, but the games in Toronto and the two British Columbia sites, Victoria and Burnaby, are sold out.

For Jim Wagner, a fan from Indiana, the United States’ win more than justified his 14-hour drive.

“Where else are you going to see this kind of game?” he said from a seat high up in the stadium. “This is our future. We’re on par with Brazil.”