The excitement of the FIFA Women's World Cup started for 140 young Edina Soccer Club players and their families on Monday long before Team USA defeated Australia 3-1 in an opening-round match. Arriving at Winnipeg Stadium in the early afternoon, the Edina kids knocked each other over in bubble soccer matches and played in other pregame events.
The group was one among carloads of Minnesota fans — many girls and young women — to make the long drive north of the border for the chance to see their role models battle on the field. The world competition, with 24 teams, takes place in six host cities across Canada; the championship game takes place July 5 in Vancouver. The U.S. team played June 8, and will play its second game June 12 in the Manitoba city that is about a seven-hour drive from the Twin Cities.
The Edina players celebrated the Nigeria-Sweden game with fans in adjacent seats from Nigeria, who danced, sang, drummed and played trumpet during the entire 90-minute match. Many of the young Edina girls walked down to the player gate to see their favorites such as Hope Solo and Alex Morgan take the field.
The trip required patience, especially for those traveling to Winnipeg Sunday night and encountered a three-hour wait at the border. Most food choices other than hot dogs sold out before the USA game on Monday, and fans waited more than an hour to enter the souvenir shop. But sunshine and a USA victory left everyone celebrating. Most of the Edina families returned home Tuesday afternoon, just in time for the players to get to practice.
Are you making the trek up to Winnipeg for the Women's World Cup? Share your snapshots with us for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue of our Sunday Travel section. Upload to Instagram and use the hashtag #MNSoccerTrip or email to cj.sinner@startribune.com.
Jeremy Olson • 612-673-7744
