PORTLAND, Ore. — An hour-and-a-half before the USA opens its 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign against Vietnam, a staff member at a sports bar in Portland places an “at capacity” sign in front of the door. Dozens of people continue to peek into the bar anyway, hoping beyond reason that a spot will open up.
Inside, it feels in many ways like a typical sports bar. Throughout the night, fans who arrived early enough to snag coveted seats chow down on burgers and fries and drink pints of beer as they cheer and yell at the bar’s five TVs. Many wear scarves or jerseys with the names of their favorite athletes plastered on the back. Some are regulars who have come from down the street to be in a place they now consider a second home. Others, however, have traveled from far-flung places across the United States to be at this bar, on this day.
They’re here because of one key difference:…
