A Long‑Awaited Pilgrimage
Two soccer enthusiasts from the Wausau area have turned a lifelong dream into a reality, boarding a flight to Los Angeles to catch the opening match of the U.S. Men’s National Team in the FIFA World Cup.
Lucas Kollross, a girls’ soccer coach at D.C. Everest, and his friend Mark Foster, who first fell in love with the sport during the 1994 tournament, have been mapping out this trip for years.
Their pilgrimage was sealed during the 2022 World Cup final, when they promised each other they would be in the stands for a U.S. game, a vow that finally materialized as the team prepares to face Paraguay on Friday at 7:45 p.m., broadcast on FOX and local affiliate WZAW.
While Kollross intends to soak up as many matches as possible, Foster has set his sights on the Los Angeles opener, planning to arrive early to experience the stadium’s pre‑game concerts, chants and drum circles that have become a staple of World Cup fan culture.
In the vibrant tapestry of international soccer, rival supporters often find common ground, swapping stories and building friendships that transcend borders, a dynamic the duo hopes will translate into a broader surge of interest in the sport back home.
Both fans see the tournament as more than a spectacle; they view it as a catalyst for growing soccer’s footprint across the United States, a goal that aligns with the broader ambition of U.S. Soccer to expand its youth base and professional leagues.