World Cup 2014: Millions watch glorious Brazil exit
Amber Silvani, of Southgate, Michigan, leads USA fans at a Belgium viewing party in Detroit
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.
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.
Fans who gathered at Redondo Beach, California, hoped for superheroics from USA
It was only minutes before they were eventually knocked out of the World Cup that the final rousing chant of "I believe" rose up from Soldier Field.
About 28,000 people had been given hope by a US goal and noisily willed their team to repay the nation's seemingly undying faith and equalise.
They had watched much of the match through their hands wondering how many times they could be saved by their new hero, the man they were all talking about, goalkeeper Tim Howard.
But many realised they had squandered too many chances to complain about the result.
As the thousands streamed out of the stadium in their red, white and blue, there was clearly a lot of disappointment but certainly quite a bit of pride too, and there were many who said whatever happened today, this World Cup had helped them realise a new love for football.
"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.
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."
Hiwot Hailu (far right) said she hoped this World Cup would be a turning point for US football
Fans grabbed the few grassy spots in the plaza in Washington DC early
"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.
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.
"And I'm not even a soccer fan. I'm a tennis guy. I should be watching Wimbledon,'' he said.
The White House press room was only interested in one story
The two teams are playing at Arena Fonte Nova in the noisy and vibrant city of Salvador
The mantra 'I believe that we will win' has been heard across the US and in Brazil
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