Congo shirts to key chains, fans flock for World Cup mementos

(fixes typo in finals in paragraph 2)

By Nick Said and Lais Morais

HOUSTON, July 2 : The World Cup has captured the imagination of fans across the United States, no better illustrated than in the tournament store in Houston, where locals have been snapping up mementos of a rare chance to have the global finals on their doorstep.  

The World Cup store provides a micro view of how the finals are perceived on a local level, and it is revealing what kind of merchandise has been a hit with customers.  

"I would say the sale of DR Congo shirts was definitely something that came out of nowhere," store assistant Matthew Schafer told Reuters. 

"Also, the other African countries. Morocco is a stacked team and there has been a lot of demand for that. Cape Verde when they were here too."

Schafer believes it is predominantly locals purchasing merchandise as they get caught up in World Cup fever.

"It's mainly people who live in the area who maybe got lucky with (tickets), and are going with their kids, so want jerseys to wear."

He said there was one sale that sticks in his mind in particular. 

"There was one guy and his assistant. I would say they bought over $5,000 worth of merchandise. Literally everything. He would pick up an item and say, ‘how many of these do you have?’, and buy them." 

Schafer’s view of local trade is backed by Zara Hashmi, who is going to Morocco’s last-16 clash with Canada at the Houston Stadium on Saturday.

"I want to support Morocco. We didn't find a Morocco jersey, but we did find a Team USA jersey and a Houston t-shirt, so we are definitely going home with these. 

"When the tickets first dropped, I was like, there's no way I'm affording these. But then as the momentum (of the tournament) built up ... my friends are a