The great American melting pot.

The country we live in is the U.S.A., but the fact is that we are a red and yellow, black and white mix and getting more mixed, so it's great when an event comes along to boil together ethnic groups into an exciting puree of soccer, cultural awareness and good times.

Starting last Friday, for the fifth year now, the All Nations Cup commenced. Where this year a whopping 44 countries, with players from the Northwest, mostly Washington state, began playing hot soccer for the coming championship next weekend at the Starfire sports complex in Tukwila on July 29.

It's about the soccer. Russia beat the U.S.A., 2-1, in a thrilling final last year watched by a throng of 3,000 in the Starfire Stadium stand.

"We have had four different winners in the last four years," said Sam Hassan, ANC co-director, along with Jessica Breznau, running this event that has a 100 volunteers and untold hours behind the scenes readying for the action of teams playing for two straight weeks. The games are going on for the Open and Masters and kids and womens divisions all these two weeks at different times on the four field turf fields at Starfire.

It was 12 teams that began this tournament the first year it began back in 2003. A total of 44 teams now participate.

Friday the Muckleshoot Tribe welcomed each and every team carrying country flags.

Then the Muckleshoot Tribe would answer a given country's question, inviting them to play in their Muckleshoot Native American tongue. A repesentative would then put a necklace around the team queen's head welcoming them.

Eritrea has a team, and, Kenya, and, Tanzania, and, littlest country Djibouti even has a team. There are about a dozen others from Africa alone. And, South America has an oversized hand full of squads. And, Central America, with Guatemala and El Salvador, to name a couple from there along with Mexico. And England has a team and and Italy and Spain and France and Denmark.

And don't forget the Irish!

Burien's own Matt McCann plays on the Ireland team. He was the keeper of record against Shorecrest for Highline High School back in 2001 when he made some amazing saves but they lost that 3A one-away from the semifinals at state.

The Irish may do something this year.

"We have a stout team, a great bunch of boys," said McCann, in thick, Irish accent. "We should do well, especially if we play the way we played this game."

McCann now works at McKelly's Restaurant and Pub in Burien so he carries his Irish a lot farther than just the soccer field.

Bosnia shot on Ireland pretty good, and, hence, McCann was busy. In the opening five minutes, a Bosnia striker took a shot from the left hash mark of the 18-yard-box and McCann, going left, fully adjusted to dive up high and right and slap away what looked like was going to be a goal in the far post.

"I definitely had my hands full," said McCann.

McCann came out of goal on numerous occasions to thwart breakaway attempts by Bosnia. Ireland's Dermot Owens scored the shot that won it, coming two minutes into the second half. Other than that, it was fairly much dominated by Bosnia, who put many shots to McCann, who covered the goal perfectly.

"I'm originally from Northern Ireland, Armaugh County," said McCann. "I have Irish from both sets of parents."

All kinds of good things were going on drumming before the games began, to note, as the opening ceremonies included a parade and queens and also a band. The band included both Muckleshoot members and others playing unique and natural instruments from different far, far away countries like New Guinea (no ANC team), West Africa. Manimou Camara was playing instruments like the Djembefola, Dundunfola and Kiringnifola.

"Djembe is the drums, Dundu (pronounced 'gem-bee') is the big drums, bass, and, Kiring is sticks, no drums," said Camara, playing in the mix of diversity of the opening ceremonies band that played while introductions came and after.

"I like this, this festival good," said Camara. "Very important to understand everyone's culture, (to) appreciate everyone's culture. If you understand everyone's culture, you understand everyone."

Camara, then used an interpreter -- his wife, Jessica.

Over 15,000 attended last year and this year should be bigger than that for sure. Last year the championship game was held at Starfire, but this year it will be held in downtown Seattle at Memorial Field.

"We have a lot more performers and cultural events," added Jesse Whitham, communications coordinator and webmaster.

The website for the All Nations Cup is allnationscup.org.