WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- Billions of people across Earth will be tuning in today to watch the opening match of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. A few fans will be watching from space.
The astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station also have World Cup fever, and will take every free moment they have to watch the matches from the confines of the ISS.
To share their enthusiasm, crew members took a moment this week to record a video and send their well wishes to the players in Brazil.
"Hi, I'm Steve Swanson, current commander of the International Space Station Expedition 40," said Swanson, a NASA astronaut. "I'm with my crewmates -- Alexander Gerst of Germany and Reid Wiseman, of the United States. We'd like to say a few words. Alex?"
"We want to wish all the teams and the fans on the ground a great World Cup," said European Space Agency astronaut Gerst, obliging his ISS companion. "Have fun and a peaceful games. May the best win."
"Have fun, play hard, and we'll be watching on the International Space Station," added NASA astronaut Wiseman.
Things could get a bit heated aboard the space station in a couple weeks when Germany and the U.S.A. play the third and final Group G match against each other.
