Dozens of Portugal supporters packed the Portuguese American Culture Society of Palm Beach County in Loxahatchee to watch the team's World Cup opening match, surrounded by Portuguese beer, wine, and food from the Iberian Peninsula. Vic Piorro, treasurer of the club, said the energy in the room reflected how deeply soccer is woven into Portuguese identity. "In Portugal, you have soccer, that's all there is. So it's very much part of our culture and our tradition," Piorro said. The club has served as a gathering place for the local Portuguese community since 1981. "It really started out just as a place for us to gather and speak our language, eat our food, observe our traditions and our culture, and it's grown into much more than that," Piorro said.
Among the fans in attendance were Jonathan Reinoso and his father, Johnny-Lee Reinoso, who left work early to make it to the club in time for kickoff. Jonathan has been a superfan since childhood. When the Portuguese national team set down roots in Palm Beach Gardens for their practice facility, his father got his son a chance to meet the team, including Cristiano Ronaldo. "I've been a fan my whole life, and when I just met him, it was just a dream, like I was in complete shock," Jonathan said. Even though the game ended in a tie, the night was still a celebration for the Reinoso family and everyone at the club.