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| World Cup: Millions watch glorious Brazil exit | World Cup: Millions watch glorious Brazil exit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Millions of Americans stopped work early to watch their national football team get knocked out of the World Cup in a thrilling match in Brazil. | Millions of Americans stopped work early to watch their national football team get knocked out of the World Cup in a thrilling match in Brazil. |
| After a string of fine saves from US goalie Tim Howard, Belgium went 2-0 ahead in extra-time, then the US pulled one back to set up a pulsating finale. | After a string of fine saves from US goalie Tim Howard, Belgium went 2-0 ahead in extra-time, then the US pulled one back to set up a pulsating finale. |
| Thousands packed public viewing areas areas across the country, despite a a kick-off time of 16:00 EST (20:00 GMT). | Thousands packed public viewing areas areas across the country, despite a a kick-off time of 16:00 EST (20:00 GMT). |
| Afterwards, the 2-1 defeat was hailed by many as the best game so far. | |
| As many as 14 million workers were predicted to down tools to watch Tuesday's game, costing the US economy more than $600m (£350m) in lost labour productivity, according to an estimate by Yahoo Finance. | As many as 14 million workers were predicted to down tools to watch Tuesday's game, costing the US economy more than $600m (£350m) in lost labour productivity, according to an estimate by Yahoo Finance. |
| At the scene - Aleem Maqbool, BBC News, Chicago | At the scene - Aleem Maqbool, BBC News, Chicago |
| During this World Cup, Chicago has already seen crowds estimated at more than 20,000, just to watch on big screens outdoors. | During this World Cup, Chicago has already seen crowds estimated at more than 20,000, just to watch on big screens outdoors. |
| For the knock-out stage, a screen has been put up at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, and with it have come American football traditions. | For the knock-out stage, a screen has been put up at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, and with it have come American football traditions. |
| Ahead of the match, hundreds are "tail-gating" - parking their cars, starting up barbecues, drinking and playing football in the car park. | Ahead of the match, hundreds are "tail-gating" - parking their cars, starting up barbecues, drinking and playing football in the car park. |
| Thousands have been queuing for hours to get inside the stadium, most adorned with the stars and stripes. The chants of "We believe that we will win" and "USA, USA" keep going up. | Thousands have been queuing for hours to get inside the stadium, most adorned with the stars and stripes. The chants of "We believe that we will win" and "USA, USA" keep going up. |
| There are huge amounts of optimism here, and it has been building throughout the tournament. Fans here are adamant their team, whose players have become huge stars, can win and have the calibre and coaching to go much further. | There are huge amounts of optimism here, and it has been building throughout the tournament. Fans here are adamant their team, whose players have become huge stars, can win and have the calibre and coaching to go much further. |
| Even President Barack Obama told reporters he had arranged his schedule around the match. | Even President Barack Obama told reporters he had arranged his schedule around the match. |
| "I thought I'd get the cabinet together this morning, because we all know that America will be busy this afternoon. Go team USA," he said. | "I thought I'd get the cabinet together this morning, because we all know that America will be busy this afternoon. Go team USA," he said. |
| Large viewing parties were held across the US, including in Chicago, Kansas City and Washington DC. | Large viewing parties were held across the US, including in Chicago, Kansas City and Washington DC. |
| At Freedom Plaza in Washington, the city government was hosting a viewing party, where viewers grabbed a spot on the stone plaza in the blistering heat hours before the match. | At Freedom Plaza in Washington, the city government was hosting a viewing party, where viewers grabbed a spot on the stone plaza in the blistering heat hours before the match. |
| "I'm so thrilled, I've been watching the World Cup my entire life," Hiwot Hailu told the BBC. "I'm glad I get to drag my friends along to watch the game." | "I'm so thrilled, I've been watching the World Cup my entire life," Hiwot Hailu told the BBC. "I'm glad I get to drag my friends along to watch the game." |
| Another fan said the fervour was different than regular football matches in the US. | Another fan said the fervour was different than regular football matches in the US. |
| "The team is playing well," Kevin Peska said. "And Americans get behind their country." | "The team is playing well," Kevin Peska said. "And Americans get behind their country." |
| Team USA's success in progressing through the so-called Group of Death has driven a wave of enthusiasm for football, which typically lags far behind American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey in popularity. | Team USA's success in progressing through the so-called Group of Death has driven a wave of enthusiasm for football, which typically lags far behind American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey in popularity. |
| Even in Texas, traditionally American football country, football has taken a hold. | Even in Texas, traditionally American football country, football has taken a hold. |
| With his right cheek sporting the stars and stripes, Jon Watson joined thousands of others at an outdoor viewing party in 90-plus temperatures. | With his right cheek sporting the stars and stripes, Jon Watson joined thousands of others at an outdoor viewing party in 90-plus temperatures. |
| "And I'm not even a soccer fan. I'm a tennis guy. I should be watching Wimbledon,'' he said. | "And I'm not even a soccer fan. I'm a tennis guy. I should be watching Wimbledon,'' he said. |
| But not everyone will be tuning in. Despite the increased viewing figures, an NBC News poll suggests six in 10 Americans have very little interest or no interest at all in the World Cup. Only 22% had a "great deal" or "quite a bit" of interest. | But not everyone will be tuning in. Despite the increased viewing figures, an NBC News poll suggests six in 10 Americans have very little interest or no interest at all in the World Cup. Only 22% had a "great deal" or "quite a bit" of interest. |
| The US and Belgium have not played each other in the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, where the Americans won 3-0. | The US and Belgium have not played each other in the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, where the Americans won 3-0. |
| Football fever in the US | Football fever in the US |
| The quirks of football that baffle Americans | The quirks of football that baffle Americans |
| Winning by losing: the (un)American way? | Winning by losing: the (un)American way? |
| The misery of an England fan in the US | The misery of an England fan in the US |
| US halts work for Germany clash | US halts work for Germany clash |
| America falls in love with football - sorry, soccer | America falls in love with football - sorry, soccer |