Thousands in Lincoln Park watch as U.S. women’s team wins World Cup title

Megan Rapinoe’s foot detonated a series of human explosions around the country Sunday morning, including one in a field just south of the Lincoln Park Zoo where about 9,000 people had gathered to watch the World Cup final.

Moments before the tumult, thousands of fingers on raised arms began to wiggle toward a jumbo television screen — sending good juju to the purple-haired captain of the U.S. women’s team 4,000 miles away in Lyon, France, as she approached a crucial free kick.

Her kick — low and right and past the Netherlands goalkeeper — triggered joyous screams that could be heard nearly a mile away as the U.S. women’s team went up 1-0.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s voice was part of the roar. She attended the gathering with her wife and daughter.

Within minutes, videos of similar crowd reactions at watch parties in bars and public spaces around the country began to pour onto the internet.

The U.S. won 2-0.

“This is awesome,” said Karen Murtagh, who brought her 4-year-old daughter, Rita.

“I like that all these people are in this field and the energy behind it,” said Murtagh, 45, who lives downtown and works in sales. “These are great female athletes, and it’s awesome to see successful women receive this attention.”

Annie Costabile / Sun-Times

The victory sealed the second consecutive World Cup championship for the U.S. women.

“This soccer is exciting because they don’t flop around and pretend to be injured like the men,” said Emily Ernst, 25, of Naperville.

“The men are such babies,” she said. “And the women pass it down the field, whereas the men just kick it long and hope someone is there.”

Thousands stuck around to watch the trophy presentation and pick up a souvenir from a merchandise stand with a long line of customers.

A few friends from Indianapolis held up signs encouraging the organizers of the World Cup to close the wide pay gap between men and women’s World Cup tournaments.

“They just won the World Cup; this is a big deal,” said Jake Franklin, a middle school math teacher who said stars like Rapinoe and Tobin Heath are worth the money.

There was $30 million in prize money available for the women’s World Cup, a fraction of the $400 million available at the 2018 men’s World Cup.

Franklin, 33, like many in attendance, was making it a double header — as he planned to also see the U.S. Men’s National Team take on Mexico at Soldier Field on Sunday evening in the final match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Nick Miceli, 30, of Lake View, attended the watch party with his brother, Marco.

”There’s more personality on this team than on the men’s team,” Miceli said.

”And they win.”