Unlike its neighbors to the south or across the Atlantic, the United States is known for its casual attitude toward professional soccer. Every four years, the rest of the world comes to a halt to watch a month-long sporting event that immediately takes priority over everything else.

But this year, the United States men’s national team has managed to capture the attention of American sports fans everywhere with its run to the knockout round in the 2010 World Cup. Local fans have taken notice as well.

“Soccer is my least favorite sport,” said Jack Chiang, recent graduate from LAS. “But I like how the World Cup brings all nations together. It really is a universal sport.”

Chiang said so far, he has only managed to watch the United States’ match against England.

“I thought the U.S. was going to lose because they let England score first,” he said. “They always seem weak in the beginning.”

Sophomore in LAS Aaron Deets said he has long been a fan of soccer, having played in high school. The United States’ thrilling 1-0 victory against Algeria on Wednesday, which vaulted them to the top of Group C and into the next round, had Deets and his friends excited over the team’s prospects.

“I thought it was a great game, a good game for us,” Deets said.

Deets said he watched the match, which started at 9 a.m., at Firehaus, 708 S. Sixth St., with friends.

“All the tables were full, and everyone went crazy when a goal was finally scored,” Deets said.

The United States will next face Ghana in the knockout stage Saturday at 1 p.m. Josh Flahaven, general manager of Firehaus and The Clybourne, 706 S. Sixth St., said he anticipates a good environment for the match this weekend, as he has been since the World Cup started.

“We’ve been doing really well at Firehaus and Cly’s. We’ve been showing every game, doing breakfast at both places,” he said.

Flahaven said the game-winning goal scored by U.S. forward Landon Donovan in injury time against Algeria sparked one of the most memorable reactions he’d ever seen.

“Everyone was upset when (the referees) took the goal away,” Flahaven said, referring to Clint Dempsey’s goal that was ruled offside in the first half.

“When we scored that goal (Wednesday), it was one of the biggest, craziest celebrations I’d ever seen at any sporting event at Firehaus,” Flahaven said.

Chiang said he looks forward to the United States making a deeper run into the tournament than ever before.

“I think they have a chance to win it all,” Chiang said. “They’re really a resilient team.”