Soccer And A Schvitz: Russians Head To NY Bathhouse For World Cup

BROOKLYN, NY — As the Russian National Team took to the pitch in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium for the World Cup opener, ex-pats nearly 5,000 miles away disrobed and had a schvitz while cheering their native country.

Russian-Americans in Sheepshead Bay headed to their local bathhouse/sports bar on Gravesend Road to sip tea and watch Russia's crushing 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the Thursday morning game for the tournament.

"We support Russia, we like Russian sports, but we suck," said Boris, a Moscow native who did not want to give his last name, while watching the game in a towel at the Russian Bath of Brooklyn.

"For this game, they win, they will win this game. But overall [their chances are] zero."

Boris joined several friends at the 1200 Gravesend Road bathhouse for the match to have a steam and debate the differences between American and Russian sports, politics and their feelings about the country they left in the 1990s hosting the biggest soccer tournament in the world.

"Everyone come on vacation, they gonna spend a lot of money, good for Russia," said Michael, who didn't want to give his last name. "I'm sure people there gonna have fun. The weather should be nice, should be good for Russia, good for soccer."

"Football," Boris corrected.

Elsewhere in the city, Russian-Americans joined the crowds in Midtown to catch a glimpse of their national team's victory, hoping them hosting will show their new neighbors a different side to the country they grew up in.

"Hopefully the world will see the better side of Russia than we've recently seen in the media and the news," said Alexey Khitrov, who moved to the Upper West Side from Saint Petersburg six years ago, while watching at the Football Factory on West 33rd Street.

"[Russia is] not just a government that's been doing some shifty stuff but it also has great people."

While Khitrov didn't expect Russia to have such a decisive win Thursday, he still didn't have much hope for their chances of lifting a trophy at the end of the tournament.

"Saudi Arabia is not necessarily the top football powerhouse," said Khitrov.

Russians weren't the only ones in the city cheering for the team during Thursday's game. Washington Heights resident Sam Cammack headed to the sports bar section of the Sheepshead Bay bathhouse with German friend Till Bleckwedel to have some pints and watch the match with Russians.

"It's just fun to go and watch the matches with people who actually have a vested interest in it, especially since the U.S. isn't playing this year," said Cammack, 45.

"That's the thing about New York, it's a global city. Watching a global tournament here in New York — there's no better way to do it."

This story was reported by Ann Bryan, Lindsay Ireland and Nicholas Rizzi

Photos: Ann Bryan/Patch