The U.S. Is Out, the Cup Rolls On — and We Are All Officially Rooting for Norway Now...right?
Belgium ended the American run 4–1 in Seattle on Monday. But the bars in town are keeping the TVs on through the July 19 final, the quarterfinals start Thursday, and a certain Norwegian just knocked out Brazil. Here’s your updated guide — bracket included.
Well. It was a great run while it lasted. The U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup ended Monday evening at Lumen Field, where Belgium won the Round of 16 meeting 4–1 — Charles De Ketelaere scored twice — closing the book on the American tournament and on Seattle’s six-match run as a host city. A group win and the program’s first knockout victory in 24 years is real progress, even if Monday was a thorough, no-excuses beating.
But a 48-team World Cup doesn’t stop for anyone’s heartbreak. Seven matches remain, the quarterfinals start Thursday, and — we checked — Ridgefield’s bars are keeping the tournament on.
A Dispatch From Seattle on Match Day
We were up in Seattle on Monday — not inside Lumen, but in the city, and being in a host town on a knockout match day is its own event. The fan zone was out-of-hand, crazy-awesome energy: jerseys from a dozen countries, chants breaking out in waves, and even the walk to Pike Place felt like a parade. If a World Cup ever comes back to the Pacific Northwest, just go be near it.
Confirmed: Ridgefield’s Bars Are Keeping the Cup On
The question after a host nation goes out is whether the TVs quietly flip back to baseball. So we asked, and all three local spots confirmed they’re televising the World Cup through the rest of the tournament:
Ridgefield · Confirmed
Taps Beer Reserve
Showed the USA matches, staying with the tournament through the final. Weekend quarterfinal kickoffs land in prime afternoon hours — arrive early for the good screens.
Discovery Ridge · Confirmed
Playmakers
Ridgefield’s sports bar has had matches on all tournament and confirmed the remaining slate stays on the screens. Saturday’s doubleheader — Norway–England at 2 PM, Argentina–Switzerland at 6 — is a full afternoon-into-evening commitment, and we mean that as an endorsement.
N. Main, Downtown Ridgefield · Confirmed
Sportsman’s Public
The N. Main standby confirmed it too — so you can watch a World Cup semifinal in a classic downtown public house, which frankly sounds like the correct way to do it.
Know a spot in Ridgefield, La Center, Woodland, or Kalama doing something special for the final? Tell us and we’ll add it.
So… We’re All Norway Fans Now, Right?
No hard feelings toward Belgium — they beat us fair and square, and thoroughly. But every eliminated fan base gets to adopt a team for the rest of the tournament, and we’d like to formally nominate Norway. They just knocked out Brazil — Brazil! — 2–1 in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, both goals from Erling Haaland, the underdog nation with the best striker on the planet. If you’d rather bandwagon with Morocco’s overachievers, Messi’s possible last dance with Argentina, or Switzerland’s long-suffering faithful, we respect all of it.
Norway plays England on Saturday, July 11 at 2 PM Pacific. Wear something vaguely red-and-navy to one of the bars above and you’ll fit right in.
The Road to July 19: The Bracket
Here’s how the final eight shake out, all times Pacific. The winners funnel toward the final on Sunday, July 19 in New Jersey.
How to Watch From the Couch
The Remaining Schedule — All Times Pacific
Quick Questions, Quick Answers
What happened to the USA?
Belgium won the Round of 16 match 4–1 on Monday, July 6 at Lumen Field in Seattle, ending a genuinely good American tournament: a group win and the program’s first knockout-round victory in 24 years. Seattle’s hosting duties ended with it — the rest of the Cup plays out in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Kansas City, and the New York area.
When does Norway play?
Saturday, July 11 at 2 PM Pacific against England, in Miami. Win that, and it’s a Wednesday semifinal against Argentina or Switzerland.
Where can I watch around Ridgefield?
Taps Beer Reserve, Playmakers, and Sportsman’s Public have all confirmed they’re showing the rest of the tournament. Every match is also free over the air on FOX or on FS1.
More from Meanwhile in Ridgefield
One last note on that July 19 final in New Jersey. Your correspondent grew up there, so this tournament ends with a homecoming — and on what would have been my mother’s birthday. She was a huge sports fan, the kind who would have had opinions about the bracket and a rooting interest by the group stage, and she would have loved every ridiculous, wonderful minute of this World Cup. So we’ll be watching the final for her — ideally with Norway in it. Grab a seat at one of the bars above, pick your bandwagon, and enjoy the home stretch.
