A sea of bright yellow jerseys erupted in cheers at El Peñol on Harvard Street when Colombia scored against Ghana 14 minutes into their World Cup match on July 3. The restaurant hit maximum capacity that night, with a server enlisting patrons to help monitor the door.

The scene has repeated itself across Brookline all tournament long, fueled by a Select Board vote in June allowing bars and restaurants to extend alcohol service by an hour on nights when matches kick off past 8 p.m. Johan Medina, who owns El Peñol's three metro Boston locations, drove the change, working with the Charles River Regional Chamber to bring the proposal to the board. Chamber public policy manager Max Woolf said the extended hours do more than boost revenue — they bring life to village-center nightlife and widen the customer base for local businesses. The state backed the effort too: Gov. Maura Healey signed a law letting Massachusetts bars stay open until 3 a.m. for World Cup events through the end of July.

Medina came prepared. After a surge of customers during the 2024 Copa America, he invested in a projector and audio system, and his wife spent late nights decorating the restaurant with dozens of mini Colombian flags around the bar, matching balloons, and tiny jerseys from different countries hanging over the tables. A squad-themed cocktail menu rounds it out, featuring the Golazo, the Pasión Tricolor Margarita, and Mi Golcito. Even Medina was caught off guard by the turnout for Colombia's first match on June 17 — a midweek, late-hour game he expected to draw a modest crowd instead filled the restaurant completely.

Mason Vaca Carpentier, 22, a recent Northeastern grad who works in biotech, was among the crowd on July 3. He grew up watching the World Cup with his grandmother in Queens, whose family had moved from Colombia. "It's the best place to watch the Colombia match," he said. "I wanted to be with other Colombians — to be in a place where everyone is rooting for the same team is always the best."

Hamilton Bar and Restaurant on Beacon Street hung a banner reading "Your World Cup Headquarter" and hit capacity during U.S., Portugal and Mexico matches, according to manager Jimmy Vey. At the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse, seven-year server Jared Tow said the U.S.-Belgium match drew what he called "Super Bowl numbers" to a bar that normally slows down in summer.

Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 that night, with Jhon Arias scoring the lone goal in the 14th minute at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Brookline's extended bar hours remain in effect through the end of July, with more late-night kickoffs still on the World Cup schedule.