This past week, I passed by several groups sporting South American team shirts , especially because of the Brazil-Japan match (not played here) and the Paraguay-Germany match (played here). They instilled a decidedly Latin flavor on the Road.

Lincoln Road, our historic pedestrian mall which now is woefully the home of too many vacant storefronts, was the scene of many World Cup celebrations. Late one afternoon a trio of be-feathered Brazilian dancers undulated to lively music. They drew a nice pre-game crowd who enjoyed the show.

The international soccer organization, shirts, CONMEBOL, sponsored numerous so-called interactive, immersive activations, fan experiences, and live match viewings, gaming stations, family-friendly activities filling at least two of the empty shops on the Road. There were also temporary retailers including  Pelé Soccer, Culto Fútbol, and an official tournament store.

Kicks of Concacaf was billed as a unique art installation celebrating football and heritage. It featured 41 pairs of hand-painted cleats, each a tribute to the diverse cultures and football traditions of the member nations in South America. In addition, a gallery features milestones of South American football and historical items from various national teams from 1930-1922, and soccer-inspired art installations, bringing together sport and art.

Euclid Circle at the center of Lincoln Road was dominated with a large and colorful creative sculpture shaped like a living tree with exposed roots. It’s a symbol of South American football’s global impact.

During the week, Constant Companion and I stopped for an enjoyable dinner at one of our city’s Peruvian restaurants. And, as we expected we did get away from futbol. Several family groups were glued to the over-sized tv screen and gleefully watched Paraguay win over Germany.

Last Friday night was the match between unexpected winner Cape Verde and Argentina. I usher at a theater on Lincoln Road. There were no usual Friday night crowds that evening! Everyone was somewhere else for this important game.