Spurs Fans in Chicago — Jasmin Shah

Watching Son score his 100th Premier League goal at the Tottenham stadium a year ago cemented Eugene's devotion to the team.

Eugene Choi grew up in Mexico City and was around football there, but Son Heung-min at Tottenham fully drew her into the sport—so much so that she went to London for that match. Now, she is a die-hard fan living in Alabama in the southern United States. The closest bar where Spurs supporters gather for matches is in Atlanta, Georgia, a two-and-a-half hour drive. And on occasion, she makes this trip. But often, especially for the early-morning matches, she stays home and watches with her family.

While visiting Chicago, Eugene found the Chicago Spurs-supporter gathering spot, The Atlantic Bar, in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. She arrived at 7:15 a.m. and grabbed the last remaining seat at the bar. She readied herself by placing her card with the team drawn on it and two little figurines, Son and Ange, which were gifts from fellow Korean fans, front and center on the bar for good luck. Turns out the Spurs needed this luck against Arsenal, and Eugene’s face telegraphed the emotion of every play, every chance to score, every goal accomplished, and every goal conceded.

She had arrived alone but was joking and cheering with the fans beside her by the end, and they shared conciliatory shrugs when the final result was a disappointing 2-3. The match was the north London derby, but the impact was felt far and wide—all the way to Chicago's north side.