Hispanics clear schedules for World Cup

They can’t mix work with play, so soccer fans this week got their work out of the way.

Hispanics in particular, who rank the beautiful game as their favorite sport, are throwing parties, canceling work and turning out in big numbers for casual games at local parks.

Mexico kicks off the 2010 World Cup against South Africa at 10 a.m. today, and many of the area’s Mexican immigrants, whether they root for their home country, will tune in.

At El Puerto restaurant on Main Street, staff cleaned more rigorously than normal Thursday night so there’d be no distraction or delay before today’s game, said Assistant Manager Jesus Negrete. Staff will gather for an early lunch at gametime before they open at 11.

If Mexico wins, they’ll party, Negrete said during an interview in Spanish. If not, they won’t

“Sí gana Mexico, si fiestas,” Negrete said. “Y no? No.”

Unlike the primetime Super Bowl, or other American sporting championships, most World Cup games will air at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., forcing some fans to record games or wait for ESPN primetime replays.

But the network splurged for the tournament rights after research showed United States viewership could grow dramatically. More than 230 hours of live programming is scheduled. Replays will air in primetime. And online streaming is expected to double or triple from four years ago.

Benito Loya, a Mexican immigrant who runs a house-painting business, will give his crew days off when Mexico plays, he said.

Because the World Cup is every four years, excitement grows to epic proportions, Loya said.

He’ll be rooting for his home team, and he believes they could win. For backups, he’ll also be pulling for powerhouse teams from Brazil and Spain.

At Giovanni’s Pizzeria, owner Giovanni Hernandez, of El Salvador, expects Hispanic soccer fans from Staunton and Stuarts Draft to watch games in the eatery.

Hernandez, like many Hispanics, said he’ll be pulling for Spain. (He’s against Brazil.)

“Too bad El Salvador is not playing, I’d have my flag outside!” Hernandez said.

National loyalties can’t explain all soccer allegiances.

Misael Negrete, 17, said he’s rooting for Brazil because of superstar Ronaldo “Ronaldhino” de Assis Moreira.

He’s down on Argentina and Italy.

“They talk a lot,” he said.

The team from Mexico has a reputation for arrogance that alienates many immigrants.

“They rotate too many coaches, all the time,” added Walter Aguilera, who moved from El Salvador eight years ago.

Soccer fans “always will pull for their country first, but if their team isn’t in they have other favorites too,” he said.

“For Hispanics, it’s like a global sport,” he said. “In the United States, it’s picking up now.”

Aguilera is among those who play at Waynesboro’s Ridgeview Park and in the Augusta County adult soccer league. Players there said they’re hoping for quality games.

“It’s every four years so everybody is gonna get happy,” said a Mexican immigrant named Antonio, who declined to give his last name because of his recent arrival in the U.S.

Antonio, who played semi-professional soccer in Mexico for four years, said World Cup month brings families together.

“For me, I want to know who is the best,” he said, putting his odds on Spain and Netherlands.

Even onlookers who claimed to know little about soccer fessed up when asked: they know when most of the games are scheduled and exactly when Mexico plays.

More than 50 games will stream live on the newly launched ESPN3.com.

Univision Communications has the Spanish-language broadcasting rights in the U.S., and it, too, will have games available on Univision.com and Univision Movil.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.