Bowling Green community getting ready for the World Cup

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – We are only one day away from the biggest competition in the world.

The FIFA World Cup is back, this time with an expanded field of competition, increasing the amount of teams from 32 to 48, and with a significant international community that called Bowling Green home, the opportunity is massive for local businesses and restaurants.

“Bowling Green being part of the community, it’s great. The diversity of community is great, so we can get all kinds of different people coming in and just watching and enjoying food and a game at the same time,” said Sasa Mandrapa, chef and owner of Toro.

The Bosnian community has called Bowling Green home for many decades, and with the mix of Bosnia qualifying for the first time since 2014, and North America hosting the tournament, the community is excited to have multiple teams to cheer on.

“A large Bosnian population from Bowling Green went and traveled to St. Louis to be part of this friendly game. It’s amazing, but having where I’m from, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ex Yugoslavia, so Croatia, also Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and of course the United States of America, which is my home country now. So we have multiple teams to cheer for. It’s a great opportunity and it’s amazing, I think,” Mandrapa said.

While that excitement is palpable, sports without food feels unnatural, and now is the best time to come together and enjoy the best aspects of many different cultures and countries.

“Food is a part of culture that we are raised on, especially with football, soccer being number one sport in the world. And I think of five plus billion people, billion people will be watching this World Cup worldwide. It’s amazing. So just imagining watching here at Toro or at The Pub or Nova Dolce or at home, you have to have some food and you have to have some friends and you have to have some rivalry coming together. So that’s what makes it so, I think come together in one way and that’s what makes it special,” Mandrapa said.

Toro will be showing the group stage matches throughout the month of June, and invites the community to come out and enjoy some delicious food while they cheer on their favorite team.