With every twist and turn of Tuesday’s World Cup knockout game between the U.S. Men’s National Team and the Red Devils of Belgium, the crowd at Great Northern Brewing Co. in Whitefish yelled, cheered or groaned.

As the unofficial meeting place of the Whitefish American Outlaws — the fan base for the American team — the brewery was already well established as a soccer-friendly spot.

Rob Lefkowicz, 32, is a member of the Whitefish Outlaws (as of yet an unofficial branch) and was at the Great Northern to watch the televised game. It has been his pleasure to show the finer points of “the beautiful game” to fans who are interested but not knowledgeable. 

“I love being here and seeing all the hard-core fans as well as the new fans,” he said. “This World Cup has been great.”

Lefkowicz, who grew up in Indianapolis, has played soccer his entire life. His generation, and the one directly after, are the driving force behind a passion for soccer never before seen in the United States.

More children are playing soccer at a young age, and the Flathead is certainly not exempt from the craze. For example, the Three Blind Refs Tournament, held in Kalispell and Whitefish May 31 and June 1, attracted 166 soccer teams this year. 

Even immigrants from more soccer-centric cultures notice the difference this time around.

Ivalu Risager, a recent transplant to Whitefish from Greenland, was a passionate viewer of the game at the brewery. A diehard Denmark fan, Risager chose her new home to cheer for over the Belgians.

“The fans here are showing so much spirit, it’s great,” she said. 

Risager, 42, is self-employed and gave herself the day off to watch the match. She grew up playing soccer in school and even played for a women’s team in Thailand.

With this new wave of soccer fans comes another type relatively new to the U.S.: fans who understand the game.

These savvy watchers may have played themselves, or they may just watch on the television, but gone are the days of young Americans laughing at a game that can end in ties.

Josh Arkin, 34, is a Washington, D.C., native who played in recreational leagues. He said he was first enthralled by the sport during the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States.

“I’m here to watch the U.S. and cheer them on,” he said, wearing a Clint Dempsey jersey at the bar. “I had the day off and knew where I wanted to be.”

Particularly in the Pacific Northwest, club teams have risen in popularity. The Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders have rabid fan bases, and many of these fans switch to national fandom effortlessly.

Arkin comfortably explained the formations and calls to a friend who didn’t know while other bar patrons called out poor passes and applauded the excellent play of U.S. keeper Tim Howard. 

The Men’s National Team may have fallen 2-1 in extra time to the feisty Belgians, but with more children gaining an understanding of the sport and older fans, the United States could find itself with yet another sport love affair.

And it might not have to wait until the 2018 World Cup in Russia to rediscover it.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.