MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - With the FIFA World Cup officially beginning this week, a local soccer team hopes the global tournament will shine a spotlight on the sport in the Permian Basin."There's something special about Midland... I can't explain it," said Scotty Murray, head coach of West Texas FC. Players keep returning to MidlandMurray said many players return to the team year after year."We have so many returners...people that choose to spend their summers here....they could go anywhere in the U.S. these are elite players who have options but they keep coming back to Midland, and I think that speaks volumes to the community that we have here," he said.

Melissa Milan, operations manager for West Texas FC and a West Texas native, has been part of the club since its beginning."I can't wait to see where it goes in the future because I think it's just going to keep growing and growing," Milan said.

World Cup expected to boost local interestFor the next three weeks, billions worldwide will watch the World Cup across the United States."It's the biggest sporting event on earth, you can say what you want about the Olympics, the Super Bowl, but there's nothing like the World Cup, and you don't even have to be a die hard soccer fan to embrace how this World Cup is going to be for the United States," Murray said.