Attending World Cup Soccer

June 28, 2006

Attending World Cup Soccer Games 2006: Reporting from Frankfurt Germany

My first game was Italy vs. Australia in 2nd row center field seats. Imagine 50 yard line seats and at the Superbowl and that would be the closest equivalent to the excitement around attending a match. Over a billion people (yes billion) watch World Cup Soccer – compare that to the mere 90 million watching the Superbowl (and to think those ads go for millions per minute.)



I was hoping it would have been the US playing, however they lost in the early rounds. It was still a great game with Italy winning in the last 30 seconds of play on a penalty kick. Somehow I sensed this was going to be a goal and I turned on my digital camera for a few second and captured it on video.

When we walked into the field, my 4 year old son was captured live on TV with his eyes wide in a sense of awe. This was not only his first soccer match but his first big time game of any kind. As far as I could see, he was the youngest child attending both games. With tickets so high priced, ranging from $72 low end face value if you were blessed to win the FIFA lottery online (probably harder than winning the California lottery), to over $5,000 scalp prices for a final match, I am not surprised. You would expect to pay between $400-$900 for most elimination games.

You don’t sense the same level of aggression on TV as you do with just a few yards between you and the players. The players play as if their lives depend on it. Why all the obsession you may ask? Especially if you are American and a soccer mom living in the suburbs like me. Well, I am going to try to take a shot at it (pun intended), though I am a neophyte when it comes to World Cup Soccer. I did attend 5 World Cup matches in 1998 while living in Paris for a month, so I have a little more foundation than the average mom.

After interviewing my husband Hans who grew up in Rio De Janeiro playing soccer barefoot on the beach in Ipanema (the boy from Ipanema) and then living in England, Germany, and being an All-American soccer player with an Olympic tryout offer, I figured he was a good place to start, especially since he has attended over 6 World Cups and over 30 matches there.


Photo: Brazil going for the goal against Ghana in elimination round.

Here are my thoughts why Soccer is the most popular world-wide sport. It is:

Action packed – Players running at full speed passing back and forth. It isn't about the final score, it is about the exciting shots on goal - which can be in the dozens.

Low Injury – unlike some other sports such as rugby or football. Players are quickly thrown out because of aggressive play. Some experts would say that an overzealous red-carding ref was the demise of the US in this World Cup (having thrown 2 players out of the game - and like other sports, you don't get to replace them).

Skill Based – passing the ball, heading it, kicking around others to go for the goal, bicycle kicks, etc.

Team focused – you can’t succeed without the help of your other players.

Support of the masses - huge fan base means all those little boys in hundreds of countries dream of being a multimillion dollar soccer star.

My husband informed me that the organized soccer federation (FIFA) was founded in the early 1900’s and has more member countries than the United Nations (207 vs 191). Which makes me think … could we solve the disagreements between our countries through soccer instead of war? If that were the case then the US would not be the world leader by any means. Brazil would be the dominant rule-maker since they have won 5 World Cups, more than anyone else. What would it be like to try their philosophy for a little while?

I have spent a few months in Brazil and enjoy their peace-loving, party filled atmosphere. Ok maybe not it San Paulo, the business center, but most other places. Poor or not, they thrive on living in the moment and take joy in almost everything they do. Attending a Brazil match is totally different than any other match because the fans have a different perspective. It isn’t if you win or lose, it more important to have fun playing the game. (and like Australia fans... the party afterwards is as fun whether you succeed or not - afterall you are on vacation and a long way from home.)

Don’t get me wrong, Brazil wants to win – maybe even more than the more developed countries like Germany, Italy, and England, because it one of the few things the country can be proud of on a world scene.


Photo: Brazil goal against Ghana

The Brazilian players are much more likely to be found smiling on the field and appear to be being having fun versus the more intense players from Germany or France. Is it this sense of playfulness and living in the moment that makes them such successful winners?

I have been focusing my life the last few years on exactly this and things seem to go much smoother. Perhaps this is a life lesson that you can follow your bliss, take it easy in your expertise having fun, and millions will still pour through your door. Ronaldinho, the Brazilian superstar makes over $20 million dollars per year. In fact, the average professional soccer player superstar makes millions per year. You can build a plush nest egg on that stream of cash.

Winning at the game certainly has it's advantages too. Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported that a World Cup defeat on average had led a country to sizeable stock market fall. Winning the Cup normally adds around 0.7 percentage points to the victor's economic growth (reports Dutch Bank.)


Here I am with a couple Germans who are Brazilians fans. A recent survey showed that soccer fans voted Brazil as their #2 favorite team after their own country.

>>> more to come in the days ahead. Right now we are trying to secure tickets to the Brazil vs. France match this Saturday. Brazil has a score to settle with French, since the French beat Brazil 3-0 and took home the 1998 World Cup. I was in Paris for Brazil vs. France and for Germany vs. USA (just before I was interviewed on the Champs Elysee by German TV - my very first time on TV).


Photo: My family with the players greeting us at Frankfurt airport.