Flint, MI -- Soccer fans sold out Luigi’s Restaurant Friday afternoon for a fundraiser for Flint Style Soccer.
The fundraiser, which began at noon, was a watch party for the United States Men’s National Team’s World Cup game against England.
By 1 p.m., the restaurant had filled with attendees, with the game starting an hour later.
Despite a scoreless draw in the Group B game, the event was high energy with a packed restaurant, raffles and a silent auction at the Flint staple off Davison road.
Flint Style Soccer is a youth soccer program for Flint kids ages 6-14. The club is free to participants and fundraisers like the watch party help keep the club free. Flint Style Soccer is currently in the process of opening an indoor soccer league which they plan to start in 2023.
Related: World Cup watch party at Luigi’s will raise money for Flint youth soccer
“There’s a lot of barriers to entry because of the cost and this is going to open the doors for a lot of them to begin playing the game and hopefully start loving the game” said Steve Wolbert, a representative from Flint Style Soccer.
Tickets to the event were $20 and, according to Wolbert, the event sold over 100 tickets.
Wolbert said the event would have sold more tickets, but the venue had a limited capacity.
Door prizes were given out to visitors to commemorate the event, including Flint City Bucks and Michigan State apparel.
“People underestimate the soccer culture in Flint, but I think, beyond that, we had a lot of people who believe in the mission of Flint Style Soccer and that’s why they wanted to be here.” Wolbert said.
This was the first time since 2014 that U.S. soccer fans got the opportunity to root for their team in the World Cup, with the team not qualifying for the 2018 version of the event. At the time, Tom Saxton, Flint Style Soccer sporting director, hosted a similar event to support renovations at Atwood Stadium.
Saxton, who was once a coach for the Michigan State University women’s soccer team, spoke at the event and helped to organize it.
“It’s heartwarming to see the support and we’re going to hopefully turn it into more kids getting introduced to the game,” Saxton said.
He felt good about the tie game between the U.S. and England.
“That’s the second youngest team in the World Cup right now,” Saxton said of the U.S. squad. “I think the future is fantastic for the U.S. National team.”
Wolbert said he thought the result was a “huge leap for American soccer” given the team did not qualify in 2018.
“We have the opportunity to put a better roster out on the field if we can start opening soccer up more broadly in our country,” Wolbert said.
The team plays Iran at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, for a chance to move on to the knockout stage.
Read more at The Flint Journal:
Small Business Saturday ‘Winter Wonderland’ event set to take place in Flint
Flint Handmade to host 15th annual Holiday Craft Market
Local entrepreneurs set to gather for Flint Small Business Saturday
Christmas at Crossroads festivities starting this weekend in Genesee Township
Grassroots effort to reopen LGBTQ+ nightclub in mid-Michigan seeking support
Ten St. Robert Catholic School students advance in area free throw tournament
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