SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. \u2013 Carol Crijns had quite the dilemma Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
As Belgium and Iran faced off in a crucial World Cup match, the French-Persian wife of Brussels Bistro owner and chef Thomas Crijns wasn\u2019t sure for whom to root.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was confused because you know \u2026\u201d she began.<\/p>\n
Before she could finish elaborating, Thomas joined the conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not confused!\u201d he said, drawing laughter from those nearby.<\/p>\n
The exchange captured the spirit of the afternoon at Brussels Bistro, where Belgian supporters, Iranian fans and soccer enthusiasts packed the restaurant to watch Belgium and Iran play to a scoreless draw.<\/p>\n
Although Sunday\u2019s result left Belgium\u2019s path to the round of 32 uncertain, it did little to dampen the atmosphere inside a restaurant that has become a home away from home for Southern California\u2019s Belgian community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over 22,000 California residents are Belgian-American. Only Wisconsin and Michigan have more. Arizona ranks 15th in the United States with over 6,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/BELGIUM_OWNERS1-1024x782.jpg\")
Brussels Bistro owners Carol Crijns, left, and Thomas Crijns smile while discussing the FIFA World Cup outside their restaurant ahead of Belgium\u2019s match against Iran on June 21, 2026, in San Clemente, California. (Photo by Richie Meno\/Cronkite News)<\/p>\n
“I try to share the atmosphere of Belgium, and soccer is a part of life in Belgium,” Thomas Crijns said. “When we do events like this, it feels like home.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Belgium entered Sunday’s match looking for its first victory after opening the tournament with a draw against Egypt. Instead, the Red Devils settled for another point, leaving them with two through their first two matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The draw keeps Belgium in contention entering Friday’s final group-stage match against New Zealand. A victory would all but solidify Belgium advancing to the knockout rounds, while a draw or loss could leave its fate dependent on other Group G results.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Belgium’s second consecutive draw left some fans frustrated.<\/p>\n
“The game was a bummer,” said Rick Wade, who supports both Belgium and the United States. “It’s the one thing I don’t like about soccer, a tie. At least they didn’t lose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe better win next Friday.”<\/p>\n
For Wade, Sunday’s match was another reminder that the World Cup experience extends beyond the action on the field.<\/p>\n
“It’s always awesome there at Brussels Bistro,” he said. “The food is good and you get a big screen to watch the game on and people are cheering, it’s just awesome.<\/p>\n
“Everyone comes together for their team, win or lose, it’s all a good time.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
That sense of community extended beyond Belgian supporters.<\/p>\n
For Iranian fan Alex Palvano, the best part of the afternoon was seeing fans from both countries come together.<\/p>\n
“There were some Iran fans and Belgian fans,” Palvano said. “We never felt uncomfortable and we felt welcome. They loved us and we loved them. It was a fun time.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Belgian native Laetitia Devast said that the Bistro offers her a chance to reconnect with her roots.<\/p>\n
“Anytime I need a home, I come here,” Devast said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like most Belgian supporters, she remains hopeful that her country can advance.<\/p>\n
“Belgian people are just so welcoming, have a lot of energy and every World Cup we are behind our team and we believe and we trust and we hope,” she said. \u201cWe want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watching in California is not like being in Belgium though.<\/p>\n
“Belgian people are so energetic and right now I’m sure they are in the streets and there is probably craziness,” Devast said. “I’m glad to be here, but I would love to be there too.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Belgium\u2019s World Cup run ends, Devast already knows who she\u2019ll root for next.<\/p>\n
“After Belgium, I’m going to be for USA,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Devast and her husband, Rick Wade, could eventually find themselves on opposite sides. Wade supports both Belgium and the United States, creating a divided household if the two teams meet later in the tournament.<\/p>\n
“That would be a tough argument in our house and who we’re going to root for,” Wade said. “But I’ll root for the USA and my wife will root for Belgium.”<\/p>\n
That matchup is a real possibility.<\/p>\n
The United States has already secured the top spot in Group D and will face a third-place finisher in the round of 32. If the Americans advance from there, they could face the winner of Group G in the round of 16, which is a spot Belgium was expected to contend for before Sunday’s draw with Iran.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/BELGIUM_FLAGS-1024x593.jpg\")
Belgian flags decorate the bar at Brussels Bistro ahead of Belgium\u2019s FIFA World Cup match on June 21, 2026, in San Clemente, California. (Photo by Richie Meno\/Cronkite News)<\/p>\n
Belgium’s 0-0 draw keeps that possibility alive, but after Egypt\u2019s 3-1 victory over New Zealand, a lot would need to go right for that to happen.<\/p>\n
Adelaide Tomvelle, the restaurant manager at Brussels Bistro and Belgian native, has seen firsthand how the World Cup brings people together.<\/p>\n
“It’s the whole community that brings all of the people together,” Tomvelle said. “I personally don’t follow up much on sports and only follow the World Cup for specific teams like Belgium. I just enjoy all the energy around it.<\/p>\n
“The support, the fans and the cheering brings people close.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
American fan Jared Devore said Sunday’s gathering demonstrated the enthusiasm Belgian supporters bring to the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“They’re so passionate about the game, it’s awesome to see.\u201d Devore said. \u201cThey’re still celebrating and we didn’t even win, it was a draw.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a tournament defined by results, Brussels Bistro offered a reminder that the World Cup is about more than goals and standings. On Sunday, a scoreless draw was enough to fill a restaurant with cheers, reunite a community with its roots and bring fans from opposite sides together for an afternoon.<\/p>\n
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/2026\/06\/22\/brussels-bistro-belgium-iran-world-cup-2026\/”>article<\/a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org”>Cronkite News<\/a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<img src=”https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/favicon1.png?resize=85%2C85&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”><\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAt Brussels Bistro, the World Cup is about more than the final score<\/p>\n
Tyler Piester, Cronkite News
\nJune 22, 2026<\/p>\n
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. \u2013 Carol Crijns had quite the dilemma Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
As Belgium and Iran faced off in a crucial World Cup match, the French-Persian wife of Brussels Bistro owner and chef Thomas Crijns wasn\u2019t sure for whom to root.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was confused because you know \u2026\u201d she began.<\/p>\n
Before she could finish elaborating, Thomas joined the conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not confused!\u201d he said, drawing laughter from those nearby.<\/p>\n
The exchange captured the spirit of the afternoon at Brussels Bistro, where Belgian supporters, Iranian fans and soccer enthusiasts packed the restaurant to watch Belgium and Iran play to a scoreless draw.<\/p>\n
Although Sunday\u2019s result left Belgium\u2019s path to the round of 32 uncertain, it did little to dampen the atmosphere inside a restaurant that has become a home away from home for Southern California\u2019s Belgian community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over 22,000 California residents are Belgian-American. Only Wisconsin and Michigan have more. Arizona ranks 15th in the United States with over 6,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I try to share the atmosphere of Belgium, and soccer is a part of life in Belgium,” Thomas Crijns said. “When we do events like this, it feels like home.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Belgium entered Sunday’s match looking for its first victory after opening the tournament with a draw against Egypt. Instead, the Red Devils settled for another point, leaving them with two through their first two matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The draw keeps Belgium in contention entering Friday’s final group-stage match against New Zealand. A victory would all but solidify Belgium advancing to the knockout rounds, while a draw or loss could leave its fate dependent on other Group G results.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Belgium’s second consecutive draw left some fans frustrated.<\/p>\n
“The game was a bummer,” said Rick Wade, who supports both Belgium and the United States. “It’s the one thing I don’t like about soccer, a tie. At least they didn’t lose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe better win next Friday.”<\/p>\n
For Wade, Sunday’s match was another reminder that the World Cup experience extends beyond the action on the field.<\/p>\n
“It’s always awesome there at Brussels Bistro,” he said. “The food is good and you get a big screen to watch the game on and people are cheering, it’s just awesome.<\/p>\n
“Everyone comes together for their team, win or lose, it’s all a good time.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
That sense of community extended beyond Belgian supporters.<\/p>\n
For Iranian fan Alex Palvano, the best part of the afternoon was seeing fans from both countries come together.<\/p>\n
“There were some Iran fans and Belgian fans,” Palvano said. “We never felt uncomfortable and we felt welcome. They loved us and we loved them. It was a fun time.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Belgian native Laetitia Devast said that the Bistro offers her a chance to reconnect with her roots.<\/p>\n
“Anytime I need a home, I come here,” Devast said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like most Belgian supporters, she remains hopeful that her country can advance.<\/p>\n
“Belgian people are just so welcoming, have a lot of energy and every World Cup we are behind our team and we believe and we trust and we hope,” she said. \u201cWe want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watching in California is not like being in Belgium though.<\/p>\n
“Belgian people are so energetic and right now I’m sure they are in the streets and there is probably craziness,” Devast said. “I’m glad to be here, but I would love to be there too.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Belgium\u2019s World Cup run ends, Devast already knows who she\u2019ll root for next.<\/p>\n
“After Belgium, I’m going to be for USA,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Devast and her husband, Rick Wade, could eventually find themselves on opposite sides. Wade supports both Belgium and the United States, creating a divided household if the two teams meet later in the tournament.<\/p>\n
“That would be a tough argument in our house and who we’re going to root for,” Wade said. “But I’ll root for the USA and my wife will root for Belgium.”<\/p>\n
That matchup is a real possibility.<\/p>\n
The United States has already secured the top spot in Group D and will face a third-place finisher in the round of 32. If the Americans advance from there, they could face the winner of Group G in the round of 16, which is a spot Belgium was expected to contend for before Sunday’s draw with Iran.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Belgium’s 0-0 draw keeps that possibility alive, but after Egypt\u2019s 3-1 victory over New Zealand, a lot would need to go right for that to happen.<\/p>\n
Adelaide Tomvelle, the restaurant manager at Brussels Bistro and Belgian native, has seen firsthand how the World Cup brings people together.<\/p>\n
“It’s the whole community that brings all of the people together,” Tomvelle said. “I personally don’t follow up much on sports and only follow the World Cup for specific teams like Belgium. I just enjoy all the energy around it.<\/p>\n
“The support, the fans and the cheering brings people close.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
American fan Jared Devore said Sunday’s gathering demonstrated the enthusiasm Belgian supporters bring to the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“They’re so passionate about the game, it’s awesome to see.\u201d Devore said. \u201cThey’re still celebrating and we didn’t even win, it was a draw.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a tournament defined by results, Brussels Bistro offered a reminder that the World Cup is about more than goals and standings. On Sunday, a scoreless draw was enough to fill a restaurant with cheers, reunite a community with its roots and bring fans from opposite sides together for an afternoon.<\/p>\n
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.<\/p>\n
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