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Warren Buffett
La Mirada Resident Turns Front Yard Into World Cup Celebration
LCCN Staff Report
LA MIRADA — As the FIFA World Cup enters the knockout stage, one La Mirada resident has transformed his front yard into a colorful tribute to the world’s most popular sport.
Josh Brooks, a longtime soccer coach and World Cup enthusiast, has lined his front yard with more than 30 national flags representing every team still alive in the tournament. After each knockout match, Brooks removes the flag of the eliminated team, creating a living World Cup bracket that changes throughout the competition.
“When the World Cup first started, everybody was grouped all across my lawn in the proper groupings,” Brooks said. “It wrapped all the way around.”
A lifelong soccer fan who has coached the sport for 35 years, Brooks said the display is his way of combining his love of soccer with the elaborate holiday decorations he is already known for.
“I do an unbelievable Halloween display, an unbelievable Christmas display, and I just figured this is something that I like to do and show my creativity,” he said.
This is the second World Cup Brooks has decorated his yard for, but he says this year’s version is larger, brighter and even more interactive for neighbors who stop by to follow the tournament.
While Brooks enjoys building the display, he says the greatest reward has been seeing the community’s reaction.
“I’m out here working on it or just out in front, and people are waving at me and honking their horns,” Brooks said. “Many of my neighbors come by and say thank you.”
Although he roots first for Team USA, Brooks predicted a 3-1 American victory in the knockout round and said he believes Portugal has the talent to win the World Cup championship.
When the tournament concludes, the flags will come down, but Brooks already has plans for the next World Cup.
“This will be back up in 2030,” he said.
For Brooks, the display is about more than soccer.
“Soccer just brings a whole bunch of people together, and it’s really cool.”
Contact Brian Hews at editor or follow @cerritosnews.bsky.social.