Rob shares this memory:
I was traveling in Mexico with my brother and friend in 1994, didn’t know anything about Football/Soccer/World Cup but we wandered into restaurant bar on the beach south of Tulum right before the United States v. Colombia match.
The crowd was small and mostly locals but there was a few Colombians there too. The atmosphere was incredible. We were gathered around a fairly small TV under a palm thatch palapa on the beach drinking beer and having a blast. Everyone was welcoming, happy, and friendly. As a bonus the US won 2-1 but I don’t even really remember that part. It was all about the connection and joy of sharing that experience.
This was the first pro football match I’d ever seen and I was blown away by the passion of everyone there watching, including the locals whose team wasn’t even playing. I was hooked and have been watching World Cup, men’s and women’s, ever since. I love the way the game brings people together and how universal it is.
Looking to the 2026 World Cup…
I hope that having the World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada continues to grow the game here in the US. But my biggest hope is that traveling players and fans are greeted and welcomed with the kindness and friendship that the beautiful game is meant to represent. EVERYONE visiting or living in the United States should be free to enjoy the World Cup without fear of harassment, hate, violence, or persecution.
