CHICAGO. Just over three weeks, twelve matches, nine cities and arenas.
The WC may still be going on – but my WC diary work has reached the final chapter.
Here is some kind of list summarization of everything you experienced.
Toronto-Dallas-Mexico City-Philadelphia-Atlanta-Philadelphia-Dallas-Seattle-Los Angeles-San Jose-Los Angeles-Miami.
In that order.
After the busy and sprawling itinerary, the time has come for me to close this World Cup diary – as my World Cup work for this championship (at least in this form on this side of the Atlantic) has come to an end.
Although it must be said that I’m actually still over here for a few more days – albeit in a more relaxed form.
So how do you sum up the impressions?
We can list everything possible in point form, so you should still get an overall picture.
I started in Toronto… Photo: Makoto Asahara
Best WC city
I’ve raved about Atlanta before. And I’m pretty sure that if you factor in all the parameters (even the next item on the list), Georgia’s pearl lands at the top. There really was a genuine World Cup feel in the city centre, with a fantastic arena within walking distance. Seattle takes second place for similar reasons – because there, too, there really was a World Cup feeling that was palpable in the city itself. Something that has been thinner in some other locations with arenas that are all the more remote.
Best WC arena
There are many parameters to take into account here. How easy is it to get to the arena? How good are the facilities at the arena itself? How is the atmosphere, the press stand (or press box) and the general reception?
I land in the following:
Best arena to work at: Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Best arena in terms of atmosphere/”power”: Without a doubt the Azteca Stadium.
Best WC food
As you probably noticed in video form, I also ate a lot of food during all the different stops. In tough competition, I’ll probably still end up in Texas BBQ here in Dallas. Perhaps mainly because there was a piece of experience that weighs heavily in this balance. Seattle second here with. Because that chowder at Pike Place Market was fe-no-me-nal.
Fanzone in Atlanta. Photo: Makoto Asahara
Best World Cup moment
Shared first place between two 2-2 goals.
– When Japan found the equalizer against the Netherlands in their opener in Dallas.
– When Cape Verde’s Sidnei Cabral scores the dream goal against Argentina in extra time in Miami. A goal that caused everything and everyone to burst into an emotional storm. Wow.
Best World Cup match
Yes, but it will be Argentina-Cape Verde anyway. Finished on top, you can safely say.
Worst WC city
Santa Clara. Or San Jose. Or the San Francisco Bay area, as the “city” was officially called in the arrangement. Absolutely, it was a good move when the USA played in the Round of 16 there. But of course there was widespread and incredible lack of real WC feeling in the Bay area.
Worst WC arena
I’ve heard that both Metlife in New Jersey and Gillette Stadium in Boston are supposed to be a pain to get to and pretty thankless in terms of commuting. But they land out of the running because I never had time to catch them.
After thinking for a few turns, I probably land in Philadelphia’s arena. While it was cool to run around the Eagles facility (and locker room where the mixed zone was prone) the press box was one of the worst. It sort of had window frames, as if it wasn’t enough that it was glazed and soundproofed.
But logistically? Then Azteca will be unchallenged number one based solely on getting to and from the arena.
Worst WC food
The media cafes really weren’t a hit. Expensive. Boring selection. And generally just pretty depressing. After, mostly because I was hungry and had to walk through the desert to find the press entrance at Toronto Stadium, I bought a refrigerator-cold small “shawarma bowl” for over 200 kroner, I decided to go out and buy what the fans buy instead when you had to eat outside the arena. It was significantly better than what the press was allowed to buy.
Worst World Cup moment
Again, when the bus home from the Azteca stadium took over an hour to show up. No, it wasn’t fun. The non-glamorous side of this job, undeniably.
Worst World Cup match
In terms of quality: South Africa-Canada. It wasn’t good football that was played at Sofi Stadium in the historic, first round of 16 of the World Cup.
Voltage-wise: Brazil-Haiti. I don’t know if it was the Philadelphia glazing that also had an effect. But it was a match that felt completely punctured and empty after just over a quarter of an hour.
Bonus points
My WC’s…
…positive surprise
Cape Verde. Thanks for the show and the drama.
…disappointment
Uruguay. Had so much higher hopes.
…best mixed zone
Japan’s after their match preparation training against Sweden. All players available (although not all stayed). In the middle of Texas sun and heat. Sweaty – but oh how you still enjoyed yourself.
…worst mixed zone
Miami Stadium’s temporary tent setup for a mixed zone was deplorable with large fans, separate rooms for the teams and very, very many Argentine journalists in a small area.
…strongest mixed zone moment
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi did not mince words in his criticism of the arrangement after the meeting with Egypt in Seattle.
…most important discovery
Halfway through the group stage I found out that it was actually possible to exchange press box seats for media stand seats (without glazing). A life-changing discovery.
…pettiest Fifa move
Fifa has covered for sponsor names in stadiums. And a lot of sponsor logos and other things inside the arenas for companies that have nothing to do with Fifa. But of course they really reached a new level of pettiness in the press cafe at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara…
…best flight
The flight from Philadelphia to Atlanta. When I realized you can watch TV on US domestic flights.
…worst flight
The red eye flight to Miami was not fun. I’ll admit that.
…powerful goosebump moment
To see a yellow-clad Azteca singing at the top of their lungs before Colombia-Uzbekistan. Incredibly powerful feeling.
…best World Cup souvenir
I’m weak to merch and stuff. But there is only one obvious one here. Because for all possible personal reasons, this was of course a must-buy:
Then this was also a nice detail. All accredited journalists received a welcome gift when visiting a new arena. Which made this collection possible:
Having said that, I will now enjoy some free time in the USA – where I will actually have time to watch World Cup matches on TV in peace and quiet.
Because luckily, the WC itself is still far from over – even if the last diary chapter has now been written.
So a huge thank you to everyone who followed along, liked, commented and read!
This is what we do in 2030 huh?
