Women's World Cup champion Brandi Chastain hosts watch party at San Jose home

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - Thursday's Group F World Cup match between Sweden and Team USA held special meaning for one group of San Jose fans.

 In the back patio of a house in the Rose Garden neighborhood, soccer is life.

"It's been amazing!! I mean Brandi is one of the most notorious woman's soccer players ever in the world," said soccer fan Suzi Tinsley.

Tinsley is referring to USA Women's Soccer World Cup Champion Brandi Chastain, who in 1999, famously shed her jersey in celebration of victory. 

Today, Chastain runs the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative. The non-profit auctioned off tickets to come to Chastain's home to watch the match between the U.S. and Sweden. The money ponied up by the winning bidders provides gear and training for underserved girls.

"To celebrate the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative, and if we can do that while watching soccer, it's a double bonus for me," said Chastain. 

Tinsley added,"To watch at Brandi's house with all the flags around, such pride for [the] U.S. team..."

Also intensely eyeing the match, the family of Team USA starting center-back Abby Dahlkemper.

"I'm doing well. A lot of confidence in her. I think we're gonna win," said her mother Sue Dahlkemper. 

Her brother Joey Dahlkemper said he has a typical sibling relationship with his soccer star sister, adding she has worked for years for this shot. 

"It's definitely kind of weird seeing her on tv, but at the end of the day she's my sister and I love her and that's who I see her as," he said.

With another step taken in the march toward World Cup immortality, the love fest for the national team, and the locals gaining support on its coattails, is likely to continue.