Hundreds of Japan Fans Fill Plano Ahead of World Cup Opener as Dallas Prepares for 9 Matches
Updated
Updated · ABC News · Jun 15
Hundreds of Japan Fans Fill Plano Ahead of World Cup Opener as Dallas Prepares for 9 Matches
3 articles · Updated · ABC News · Jun 15
Summary
Hundreds of Japan supporters gathered in Plano, Texas, for "Japan Day" before Japan's opening World Cup match against the Netherlands, turning a Dallas suburb into a pre-game fan hub.
Ultras Nippon staged the event with FC Dallas and supporter group Dallas Beer Guardians, reflecting long-running ties between local soccer fans and Japanese clubs.
Dallas will host 9 World Cup games—the most of any city—and local organizers said they hope the tournament's energy carries over to FC Dallas, Dallas Trinity and other area clubs.
Kenny Cooper, a former FC Dallas player, cast the moment as the payoff from decades of grassroots work, recalling how earlier generations once knocked on doors to build support for the sport.
Dutch fans were also celebrating across town, underscoring Dallas's role as a multicultural World Cup stage before later group matches involving England, Croatia, Argentina and Austria.