AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) – If you think Auburn only fills up for football, think again.
Thousands of fans packed into Jordan-Hare Stadium on Tuesday as Argentina and Iceland faced off in an international soccer match, turning the home of Auburn football into a destination for soccer fans from across the country and around the world.
Hours before kickoff, parking lots surrounding the stadium were already filled with tailgates, jerseys, and excited fans eager to be part of what many described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For Auburn students Alex VanArman and Phoenix Pashon, buying tickets was an easy decision.
“I bought my tickets right after my history class when they dropped,” VanArman said.
The students said they were excited not only to watch international soccer in person, but also to see one of the sport’s biggest stars, Lionel Messi, take the field.
“Argentina, for sure,” they said when asked who they were rooting for.
The event drew fans from all walks of life, including TJ Smith, a longtime soccer supporter and soccer referee administrator for the Montgomery and Auburn areas.
Smith arrived hours before kickoff alongside fellow referees to tailgate before heading into the stadium.
“We’re gonna have about 95,000 people, man, from all different types of the country coming up to Auburn, Alabama to watch some soccer. This is great,” Smith said.
For Smith, the match represents more than just a game. He said it is another sign of the sport’s growing popularity in the United States.
“I got a love because it’s the easiest game you can play,” Smith said. “All you need is a ball. Anybody can play it.”
The excitement surrounding the match was evident throughout the city as restaurants, businesses, and parking lots filled with visitors ahead of the game.
Fans could be seen wearing jerseys from around the world, taking photos around campus, and gathering with friends before making their way into the stadium.
Smith said he was especially excited to see a major international match being played in Alabama, something he never imagined years ago.
“It’s crazy how we’re going to fill the whole Auburn football stadium with not football, but just soccer,” Smith said.
Whether fans were cheering for Lionel Messi and Argentina or pulling for underdog Iceland, one thing was clear: for one night, Auburn became more than a college town.
It became a gathering place for soccer fans from around the world.
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