( CNN ) -- Moments after Germany defeated the United States 1-0 Thursday at the World Cup , the globe 's biggest sporting spectacle , frenzied U.S. fans danced and cheered in the humid air under New York 's Manhattan Bridge overpass in Brooklyn . One more jubilant celebration -- sans a victory . Even in defeat , Team USA earned a spot in the last 16 of the World Cup after limping out from one of the tournament 's toughest groups . They lost their final Group G game but still qualified , despite Portugal defeating Ghana 2-1 . `` This is bigger than a moment , '' said a frantic fan in Brooklyn who was among the thousands who gathered at various locations around the nation to watch the big match . `` It 's a movement . People are getting behind U.S . soccer . '' Sales manager Dave Bogart said his heart was beating `` a mile a minute '' after Team USA 's improbable advance from the feared `` Group of Death . '' Thomas Muller 's second-half strike condemned the U.S. to defeat following a rain-soaked match in Recife , Brazil . But star Cristiano Ronaldo 's late strike for Portugal inflicted defeat on Ghana and ensured the Americans qualified in second place on goal difference . The American squad will now travel to Salvador , where its opponent will be Belgium on Tuesday . `` Every four years you get to see the game grow , '' Bogart told CNN under the Manhattan Bridge . World Cup fever , American-style , lives -- at least until Tuesday . From now on , any loss for a team means the end of its World Cup hopes . Throughout the country -- from outdoor viewing events in the nation 's capital , New York and Chicago , to office lunch parties and crowded sports bars -- Thursday , June 26 , 2014 , was a national holiday of sorts . Meetings were canceled . Students played hooky . Doctors ' letters were forged . Some bosses simply gave up , ordered pizzas and put on the game . That fever was in full view at breakfast time when an unnamed World Cup fan from suburban New York gulped down a cold beer at Jack Demsey 's Pub in Midtown Manhattan . At an hour when New Yorkers are packing onto subway trains for their morning commute , the pub was already standing-room only . `` I actually got out of work with a concussion , '' said the superfan , who declined to give his name for obvious reasons . For many early risers , the breakfast of champions included pints of stout , ale and cider , fireball shot specials and spicy chicken wings . For 90-some minutes starting at noon Thursday , most of America seemed to stop . A year of method acting helped the superfan with his concussion charade , as did a `` real doctor 's note from a real doctor , '' he said . `` I had to be off for two weeks , and I could n't think or do anything , '' he told CNN . `` I put that ( method acting ) to use as a diehard soccer fan . '' U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann , the man who transformed Germany into a powerhouse team , on social media gave America 's workforce permission to take a day off . His note said , in part , that the absence is for a `` good cause '' and that Team USA needs the `` full support of the nation '' in order to advance to the next round . New York Gov . Andrew Cuomo tweeted back : `` NYS stands strongly behind you . I 'm approving an extra hour for lunch today . '' On Sunday , 20,000 people showed up for the World Cup watch party at Chicago 's Grant Park for the USA-Portugal match , CNN affiliate WBBM reported . But Thursday 's crowd , which was expected to be bigger than Sunday 's , turned out to be about 5,000 . In California , at the headquarters of Edmunds.com , workers pecked away on their laptops while watching the game . The average age of workers at the Santa Monica headquarters of the car-buying website is 35 . Edmunds CEO said he recognized a growing interest in soccer . `` We wanted to be open about it and allow them to watch the game , just so long as they ( employees ) get results , '' CEO Avi Steinlauf said . `` We 'd rather have it this way , watching in a conference room , than trying to check the score on their phones or computers . '' The final score did n't seem to matter much Thursday . The team advanced . As the superfan at Jack Demsey 's Pub put it , his real affliction was not a concussion . `` The only thing I had was soccer fever , and the only prescription is more soccer , '' he said . `` When we win , it is the greatest feeling in the world . It 's one of the rare sports that really shows the patriotism that is America . '' For many on Thursday , even defeat felt great . U.S.-Germany match goes on despite downpour . CNN 's Richard Roth , James Masters , Chris Welch , Brian Vitagliano , Elizabeth Landers , Paul Vercammen and Marisa Marcellino contributed to this report .
`` People are getting behind U.S. soccer , '' fan says . Throughout the U.S. , World Cup fever takes hold . Thursday , June 26 , 2014 , becomes a national holiday of sorts .