Welsh fans head to boozers as they celebrate first World Cup match
Well that was a close one! Welsh football fans pack out boozers in Cardiff and Swansea as they celebrate 1-1 draw against the USA in first match of Qatar World Cup
- Fans gathered at Elevens, the bar owned by Gareth Bale, in Cardiff and at the Vale Sports Arena in Penarth
- Supporters could be seen wearing regalia, including the Welsh jersey, and proudly flying the Welsh Dragon
- The Dragons faced the United States of America in their first World Cup finals match since 1958
Welsh football fans packed out boozers across country in Cardiff and Swansea as they celebrated a 1-1 draw against the USA in the first match of Qatar World Cup.
Supporters gathered at Elevens, the bar owned by Gareth Bale, in Cardiff and at the Vale Sports Arena in Penarth wearing sports regalia and proudly flying the Welsh Dragon.
They faced the USA in their first Group B match, with the Americans hoping to make up for failing to qualify for the last tournament in Russia in 2018.
Gareth Bale was the toast of his own pub tonight after scoring to earn Wales a draw in their first World Cup for 64 years.
The Elevens Bar in Cardiff city centre went wild when Bale equalised from the penalty spot with 10 minutes to go.
Fans were hugging each other and shouting ‘Bale, Bale’ in the packed bar across the street from Cardiff castle.
Lifelong supporter Dafydd Matthews, of Anglesey, North Wales, said: ‘The atmosphere here is fantastic – there’s no better place to watch Wales than Gareth Bale’s pub.
Welsh football fans packed out boozers across country in Cardiff and Swansea as they celebrated a 1-1 draw against the USA in the first match of Qatar World Cup
Fans were looking gloomy when the USA scored in the first half, but Wales levelled eight minutes from time when Tim Ream went through the back of Bale
Bale got up to keep his nerve and slam his 41st Wales goal past Turner from the penalty spot
Wales football fans watch Wales’ opening FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA at Elevens, the bar owned by Gareth Bale, in Cardiff
Gareth Bale was the toast of his own pub tonight after scoring to earn Wales a draw in their first World Cup for 64 years
They are facing off against the USA in their first Group B match, with the Americans hoping to make up for failing to qualify for the last tournament in Russia in 2018
Wales football fans watch Wales’ opening FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA at Elevens, the bar owned by Gareth Bale, in Cardiff
Wales fans sing at the Vale Sports Centre in Penarth ahead of the Wales v USA. The Welsh team is in Group B, with the USA, England and Iran
Wales failed to lay a glove on the United States in a one-sided first half and were relieved to get to the interval just one goal down
Welsh frustration was summed up by a booking for Bale, who was shown the yellow card for bringing down Yunus Musah five minutes before half-time
Wales Fans watch the team in play in their opening game of the Fifa World Cup at the Vale Sports Arena in Cardiff. Pictured here are Wales fans reacting after the first USA goal
United States winger Timothy Weah scored with a finish his illustrious father would have been proud of to give his side a deserved 1-0 halftime lead over Wales in their World Cup Group B clash at a raucous Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Monday
‘You couldn’t hear yourself think when the penalty went in. It’s only a draw but I’ll take that.’
Fan Ieuan Thomas, 66, of Cardiff, said: ‘I came to Gareth Bale’s pub because I thought it would be a lucky place to watch the game.’
‘I was two the last time we qualified for the World Cup – I’m a pensioner now and this is something new and fantastic for me.’
‘I came to Gareth Bale’s pub because I thought it would be a lucky place to watch the game.’
The Wales team celebrated with fans at Bale’s Elevens Bar when they qualified for the tournament in June, the first time they have reached the finals since 1958.
The top floor of Elevens was fully booked weeks ago and some of punters were Gareth’s friends who couldn’t make the trip to Qatar.
The son of former World Player of the Year George Weah timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, before collecting a beautifully weighted pass from Christian Pulisic and slipping the ball past goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey after 36 minutes
Supporters gathered at Elevens, the bar owned by Gareth Bale, in Cardiff and at the Vale Sports Arena in Penarth wearing regalia and proudly flying the Welsh Dragon
The vociferous Welsh fans will be hoping their team can perform a repeat of their Euro 2016 heroics, where they surprised many to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament
USA fans take shots before the USA vs Wales World Cup football game at Bierhaus NYC, Manhattan, New York
Wales football fans watch Wales’ opening FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA at Elevens
Wales football fans react to the USA scoring the first goal in Wales’ opening FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA at Elevens
Wales fans sing at the Vale Sports Centre ahead of the Wales v USA FIFA World Cup 2022 game
But the ground floor of the sports bar, which teetotaller Bale opened in 2017, was rammed with fans cheering on Wales against the USA.
There were outbreaks of Yma o Hyd, the Welsh language folk song which translates as ‘We’re Still Here,’ which has become the official anthem of the Wales squad in Qatar.
Manager Lee Cleaver, 50, said: ‘I’m delighted Gareth got a goal it was touch and go for most of the match.
‘He calls in when he’s home but he’s not hands on – he’s a busy man.’
Meanwhile in Merthyr Tydfil the New Crown pub was enticing customers with an online advertisement saying: ‘Don’t go to Qatar, come to the New Crown, the beer is cheaper and you definitely won’t go to prison for singing too loud.’
Fans watch on a big screen at the Vale Sports Centre as a fan with a bucket hat holds his head in his hands
Wales Fans watch the team in play in their opening game of the Fifa World Cup at the Vale Sports Arena in Cardiff
Wales fans at the 4TheFans Fan Park at The Tramshed, Cardiff, during a screening of the FIFA World Cup Group B match between USA and Wales
Wales Fans watch the team in play in their opening game of the Fifa World Cup at the Vale Sports Arena in Cardiff
Welsh football supporters go crazy after Gareth Bale finds the back of the net from the penalty spot
Fans watch on a big screen at the Vale Sports Centre as one supporter puts his hand over his mouth following a goal by the US team
Upset Wales Fans watch the team in play in their opening game of the Fifa World Cup at the Vale Sports Arena in Cardiff
Fans in New York celebrate in Hendrickson’s bar after Timothy Weah of the US scores their first goal
In Swansea’s Singleton Park a big top tent with a 3,000 capacity was ‘bouncing’ before kick off with many fans taking the day or afternoon off work to get a good seat.
Wales supporters, many in red yellow and green bucket hats, could pre-order beer and popcorn for £35 per table of up to eight or £80 for prosecco and popcorn.
Swansea is staging one of four FanParks in Europe along with Liverpool, Oslo, and Alicante.
The company behind the big screen event said: ‘Our goal is to create inclusive and feel-good events bringing people from different cultures together.’
Wales and Swansea City fan Callum Bryant, 27, said: ‘We needed some joy and something to celebrate. Our rugby team has gone down the pan and people are struggling financially.
‘It’s a draw but we looked like losing so we are still in with a good chance of qualifying.’
Wales football fans react to the USA scoring the first goal at Elevens, the bar owned by Gareth Bale, in Cardiff
Despite being cheered on by a vociferous army of travelling fans in Qatar, the Welsh have fallen behind against the Yanks after a first half dominated by the team from across the Atlantic
A goal by winger Timothy Weah in the 36th minutes after he was put clear by Chelsea star Christian Pulisic separates the sides at half-time, and gives Wales a hill to climb in the second half
In Wales fans watching the game on big screens in places such as Cardiff and Swansea held their heads in their hands as their team conceded, while there was jubilation among US supporters
Thousands of Wales fans have travelled to the Middle East to show their support for the team managed by Rob Page and led by talismanic captain Gareth Bale, while the US will be hoping to make up for failing to qualify for the last tournament in Russia in 2018
Wales fans at the 4TheFans Fan Park at The Tramshed, Cardiff, during a screening of the FIFA World Cup Group B match
Wales football fans celebrate Gareth Bale’s penalty to make the score 1-1 during Wales’ opening FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA
Wales fans at the 4TheFans Fan Park at The Tramshed, Cardiff
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