FIFA World Cup

Man, I started this whole deep dive into the 1998 World Cup because I got absolutely sick of listening to my younger cousin drone on about high-press football and inverted full-backs. Seriously, every damn time we watch a game, it’s...

Man, every four years this happens. You see the crazy fans rocking unbelievable body paint for the World Cup, and you think, “I gotta try that.” I’ve done small stuff before—a little flag on the cheek, maybe a team crest...

Digging Out the Gear and Defining the Goal I tell you, every four years, it’s the same routine. I drag the old national flag and that huge, signed banner out of the attic. These aren’t cheap paper posters; they are...

Man, 2018 World Cup in Russia. That knockout stage? Pure adrenaline. But if you were like me, living halfway across the world, just getting the damn schedule right was harder than predicting the final score. I decided early on: I...

It all started a couple of months ago, right after the final whistle blew on that major soccer tournament. You know how it is—friendly rivalry, high stakes, and a ridiculous bet. My buddy, Gary, he was absolutely certain his team...

The Kickoff: Why I Started This Crazy Hunt Let me tell you, I wasn’t just sitting around one Tuesday morning thinking, “Hmm, maybe I should save twenty bucks on a replica shirt.” No. This whole project started because my neighbor,...

Man, I needed a project. The official marketing posters they churn out for the big tournaments? They are always so clean, so corporate, so utterly soul-less. I was watching reruns one afternoon, just feeling that itch, that need to actually...

You know how it is. You sit down with a buddy, maybe crack open a beer, and the talk eventually drifts to the good old days, specifically the World Cup. Last week, I had this massive screaming match with my...

Getting Started: Why I Bothered to Decode Stadium Chants You know how it is. You hear a World Cup anthem, and instantly, you’re pumped. You’re singing along, waving your arms, maybe spilling your beer. But have you ever actually stopped...

Kicking Off the Research Grind I dove headfirst into this whole World Cup lottery thing last cycle. Man, I thought I was smart. Everyone talks about “tips” and “systems,” and I figured, someone must have cracked the code, right? I...