From the euphoric cries after an unexpected victory against Ghana in the "Group of Death" to the bittersweet ending after the 2-1 loss against Belgium in the knockout stage, for the past three weeks, LA Galaxy’s public viewing party allowed American fans to closely follow the United States Men's National Team every step of the way.

Since the first group stage match on June 16, LA Galaxy hosted viewing parties for all four of the USMNT’s matches, three of which were open to public for free. In total, the events attracted more than 6,000 supporters. The viewing party not only provided a gathering place for groups of diehard U.S. fans, but also proliferated the love of soccer to broader demographics across Southern California. Here are the reasons why they were simply awesome.

1.    Pure Passion

Vince and Raquel have been together since 2006 and soccer has been a big part of their life from day one. (Taiu Kunimoto)

It is inevitable for soccer to be associated with alcohol consumption at a pub or a bar; however, LA Galaxy’s public viewing party was hosted without any sponsorship from alcohol vendors. If the audience craved beer, they either had to "bring their own booze" or not drink at all.

“Here, you get the atmosphere where everybody is cheering and having good time with everyone,” said Vince McLeod, a 29-year-old U.S. fan who was one of the first people to arrive at Redondo Beach along with his wife Raquel. “You don’t need to get drunk.”

“The viewing party shows the love and the growth of the sport,” Raquel added. “The more we open up, the more people come and become fans, which allow us to gain the respect for the sport that the rest of the world has.”

Glancing over every now and then to her husband at her side, Raquel explained how they fell in love with the sport, and then, through the sport, with each other. They found their common interest while cheering for the USMNT eight years ago, and they’ve been together ever since.

Just like thousands of other viewers at the party, this couple showcased that watching soccer was more than just the appreciation of the sport: It was a way of life.

This party of six was just waiting for their grandmother to arrive for a full family union. (Taiu Kunimoto)

2.      United The People

It is needless to say that the public viewing party united the soccer fans. But, for some, it served as a place for a small family reunion.

Day Robins, a freshman college student, flew across the country to visit her family and relatives in California for her summer break. She played and watched soccer since she was eight, and now she plays side-back on the varsity soccer team at Middlebury College in Vermont.

The family decided to attend the party together for the first time when they heard crazy things about the past two public viewings at Hermosa Beach.

“I came to see the U.S. win with my family,” Robins said. “Well, I hope they win.”

As the family of six held an intriguing conversation about Team USA's chances to clinch a narrow victory against Belgium, the mother casually added, "Also, we are waiting for her grandmother to arrive soon.”

For them, the public viewing party was a moment worth sharing with the entire family.

3.      It Brought Thousands of Americans Together to Watch Soccer

Thousands of supporters flocked to Veterans Park at Redondo Beach on a Tuesday morning to watch the USA vs. Belgium match. (Taiu Kunimoto)

Despite the gloomy morning by the ocean side, fans began to arrive five hours before the kickoff that was set to be 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. As the time approached for kickoff, larger herds of people started to trickle in. By the time the game started, the Veteran Park was jam-packed with more than 2,000 people dressed up in red, white and blue.

Together they chanted, “I Believe That We Will Win”–-the five words that became the official pregame cheer for USMNT before the World Cup.

“We are very satisfied with how it turned out,” said Chris Klein, president of LA Galaxy. “As long as the U.S. is in the World Cup, we will continue to host viewing parties.”

Although after the U.S. loss there will no longer be any more viewing parties until the 2018 World Cup, the sheer scale of the crowd and their overwhelming energy persuaded some pedestrians to stop and observe the aberrant scenery.

One lady, for instance, joined the crowd with her friends and began commenting fervently on the game.

“Oh don’t be wimp! Suck it up!” she exclaimed as Omar Gonzalez twisted his ankle in an awkward landing. “Gosh, those guys are so dramatic sometimes.”

She screamed continuously for the remainder of the game. The beautiful game just gained another beautiful follower. Indeed, it was a truly heartwarming sight.

4.      It Ecouraged People To Skip Work For World Cup

According to Yahoo Finance, when the USMNT is broadcasted live, the entire country came to a virtual halt, which caused the labor productivity to plummet. The game against Germany resulted in roughly $682 million worth of lost labor productivity.

But that doesn't stop people from entering a state of soccer frenzy over the summer. LA Galaxy’s video that went viral encapsulated the essence of prioritizing the World Cup over work.

You can contact Taiu Kunimoto here or follow him on Twitter.