World Cup Fever Hits Wellesley

It wasn't quite Soccer City in South Africa, but the grass pitch at Sprague Field in Wellesley served the purpose Saturday afternoon for a group of enthusiasts who played as if they were competing for the World Cup.

The occasion was Sixto Abraham's birthday/going-away party, but the participants, from Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Spain and Wellesley, wore their nation's colors (as well as many others') with pride and played for hours.

"It's just like we were in Argentina," said Sixto's father, Lucas Abraham. "Whenever we had a birthday party we'd go play soccer all day."

Flags were waved, faces were painted and songs were sung - mostly in Spanish. 

But the menu was all-American - chili-dogs and Coca - Colas.

When Patty Valverve, who grew up in Mexico and whose husband is general manager of Mexican restaurant Casa Romero in Boston was asked why she wasn't putting chili on her hot dog, she seemed puzzled. 

It's chili from Mexico, she was told.

Several people burst out laughing.

"I never saw that in Mexico," Valverve said. "It must be from Texas."

The Abrahams, who spent three years in Wellesley while Lucas completed his medical residency in Pulmonology at St. Elizabeth's Hospital are moving to Louisville, KY this week.

They're hoping to be back in New England before too long.

And in the meantime, they've been assured that there are plenty of soccer fields in Louisville.