Letting The World Cup Decide My Plans

Not to make my plans, but at least twice I have traveled to the country that ended up winning the men's world cup that same year - Italy (2006) and Spain (2010). My friends asked me to stay home after that :)

But if I were indecisive about where to go next, that might very well be a good way to pick a destination other than tossing ideas into a jar and picking one.

Switch it up and let the winners of the Womens' World Cup help you decide.

Switch it up and let the winners of the Womens' World Cup help you
decide.

I totally agree with Ms. Jo, but just know that might very well mean you stay home!

An interesting idea. A Haitian vacation is off the table, but Iran, Iraq or DR Congo are still theoretically possible…

I totally agree with Ms. Jo, but just know that might very well mean you stay home!

And...that's 2027, so will work for NEXT year's planning. Sure, most likely a US women's team is winning, but not guaranteed as 2023 showed.

I'm happy using both.

Let's hope Brazil wins so you can visit a new place (it's a fabulous country!). I've been to all on this list.

I hadn't seen this post before I started a new one today. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/2026-world-cup-countries-what-s-on-your-list

@joy - your thread is just as fun and slightly different. I agree that there are lots of neat countries to explore when looking at the teams in this World Cup. I think using the winning team might be just one good idea for a future trip, and being reminded of the many other neat options out there (as seen in your post in Beyond Europe) makes me happy as it means I've got plenty of good options for travel for years to come.

It's nice to have something like the WC to offer an inclusive and entertaining option for folks around the world to enjoy.

Well, any other country still playing that could be added to your winner wish list?

The list is narrowing, but I'm still excited about a couple of outside contenders - Egypt and Colombia! Egypt has been on my "wishlist" for a long while but not made the cut. And, with a sister-in-law having family in Colombia, a visit there might be much more "local" than many of our visits to places we don't have any friends/family to show us the "real" local scene.

Regardless, no bad options on the list of potential winners.

I'd like to see Colombia or Morocco play on the final. Though not a new place for me to visit.

For the sake of the OP, I've cleared out a side topic.

Still so many teams left... you might be heading to Norway. :)

While I've been to Norway, their WC play is highlighting that I wouldn't mind a re-visit.

And France still seems the front-runner, and I never have a problem returning there.

The OP can certainly strike the USA off their list of possible destinations! It was a well deserved victory for Belgium last night for sure!

Given that England are still in the competition, Tom or visitors playing along might like to catch some amateur football at my local pitches on a Sunday. There's some great play from local pub teams. They may well welcome visitors from the US as a guest side if you can get eleven worthy players together :)

I was so hopeful for Egypt when I last checked score in the second half. This World Cup has had some incredible games! But also a few ones with unfair referees...
I tried to catch some of the games today in between meetings. People at my office may have thought I had a tummy ache with my several and long trips to the bathroom. 😂
Surprised to see Colombia leave as well.

France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, Argentina, England, and Switzerland remain, and it is still a fun set of options for future travel.

Looking at my scheduled travel, France, Morocco, and Spain are already "booked" for us next year (and all repeats with new places within those countries). Belgium remains the only one on the list we haven't spent time in, and also remains high on my future list.

I'm a bit disappointed I've lost Japan, Brazil, and a few others from my options, but, of course, those will just be left on my "normal" future travel list and gotten to when I can.

Good job you're already going to Spain Tom. France were really poor. Spain absolutely walked it to everyone's surprise.

England or Argentina? I'd like to see England win I suppose. I'm not really an England fan but I'm probably less of an Argentina fan when it comes down to it. I hope FIFA keep it fair.

I agree with GerryM and Argentina is my least favorite on the remaining teams. Unfortunately, FIFA seems to have already decided on Argentina/Messi from the first WC game. It is so bluntly unfair it is hard to watch.

I'm happy to Spain honestly. But cheering for England, the underdog here.

I'm happy with all the finalists. I do think Argentina would be my choice vs England, but honestly, I'm happy with both options to visit. From a "World Cup" perspective, I'm pulling for Argentina vs Spain in the final and a Spanish win. But, with all the fun of this year's WC, I think I've been the biggest winner.

Of course, I luckily have the TdF for the week after the WC final to at least sell me on another longer trip to France.

A side note on FIFA and favoritism (or not), consider leading into this WC, the top four teams were these four finalists. It's not like any of them have punched above their weights, but rather, they are meeting expectations. Argentina, Spain, France, and then England.

I'm watching the game at home, but the pub just out on the main road near me had a queue around the block to get in just now. There must be literally hundreds of Lime rental bikes parked at the end of my street. Biggest England game for years.

I'd love to see Jude Bellingham put three past Argentina for a win. That would show 'em.

Oh, well.

Cape Verde held Spain to 0 - 0 and took Argentina to extra time where they lost because of an own goal.
Maybe they are the true ‘winners’ of the tournament?

Anyway Come On Spain! Wipe the floor with them!

Hope both teams show up. Yesterday, England went about 20 minutes in the critical stages of the game where they completed just two passes, both involving the goalkeeper. Embarrassing performance. Goal Post was their player of the game.

@emma ... If Cape Verde had wanted my tourism dollars, they should have tried harder! :-)

Definitely liked the various underdog teams that showed up, played well, entertained the masses, and did their countries proud. I can see a visit to Cape Verde at some point, but following my own rules, they don't get chosen this time using my WC winners method.

It's looking like Spain will be your destination Tom. England deserved to lose but I'm not convinced Argentina deserved to win. I'm sure FIFA will do a full and thorough investigation into Argentina's antics post-final whistle and come down hard on such behaviour...

On a positive note if England win on Saturday they will be third which is further than they have come in the last 60 years, so that’s something! And by saying this I’ve obviously jinxed it.

Club Brugge and The Most Famous Seven Notes in Sports

How "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes went from a modest indie rock hit to a melody chanted in stadiums across the globe. It all started in 2003, with a group of Belgian soccer fans at a pub in Italy.

And by saying this I’ve obviously jinxed it.

You didn't jinx it but that was close! Happy for England!
And go Spain tomorrow!
FIFA has favored Argentina since game 1 and although they are good, they don’t deserve to win based on favoritism throughout games.

Wow, I wish I were in Spain this evening. The whole country will be shut down to watch this. Every bar, cafe, restaurant, town square and plaza will be filled with TV screens.

Yahoo for Spain! Argentina played a very dirty game, not something I want my grandkids to emulate, so it wasn’t hard to root for Spain. So glad they won!

Good to see Spain win! Argentinians showing themselves up again with the fisticuffs after the final whistle. I hope DJT, Bibi and Johnny Infantino had nice fat Polymarket bets on Argentina to win.

!Viva España!
Nice place to visit, Tom R.

Wow - what a great game and overall World Cup!

In those early rounds, I really thought Spain was a dud, but man did they show up when they needed to.

Sure, we already got Spain on the calendar and locked in for October 2027 already, so my "goal" for this thread is a little derailed, it still made me think I need to work harder to bring in some new options.

Spain is relatively big, so now it's finding NEW options in Spain to visit, and right now, Girona is top of that list, but we'll be also looking at several other options too. We'll see travel-wise, but in other regards, I'm happy Spain won.

I’m very glad Spain won.
The behaviour of the Argentina team was appalling through out the competition. I’d like to think FIFA will respond in some way but I’m not holding my breath.

I didn’t think much of the final but then finals are always a bit weird. Too important and therefore often too nervy for any really decent play. Contrast with the France v England match where no one really cared ( until they did!)

Hopefully FIFA will listen to the supporters and reverse some of the changes made in this tournament.
Get rid of the advertising ( sorry ‘hydration’) breaks unless the match is actually being played in the desert.
Get rid of the totally unnecessary half time show during the final. My opinion matched Wayne Rooney on that one :-)
At least TRY and push back on individuals who want to influence FIFA and the outcome of matches, but with the present management of FIFA I’m not holding my breath for that one either!

Anyway I really enjoyed it as a whole, if not all the matches. Roll on the Euros in 2028!

Spain it is. I don't even have to change my plans. Will be there for a week in October, up until then I've only spent a total of 3 days in Spain so I'm looking forward to it.

• I have to think the hydration breaks will be here to stay. I read that Fox made a quarter of a billion dollars on the advertising on those breaks alone.
• I'm not much for halftime shows, even during the Superbowl, however I think it was a good idea. Isn't one of the points of events like this and the Olympics to invite the world to your home and introduce then to your culture? A grand halftime show is as much of an American identity as ranch dressing.

If you think next WC will be peak summer for Portugal, Spain and Morocco, I think hydration break will stay for the need of it.
I wish they would stop the clock for it though, so no need to add so many extra minutes at the end.

I rather see a pre-show vs. halftime. It breaks the essence of the game and tournament.

Isn’t one of the points of events like this and the Olympics to invite
the world to your home and introduce then to your culture?

Fair enough but do it in an opening ceremony not in the middle of a game. Or you could also look at it the other way, if you invite a sport into your country you at try and respect the existing order of play. And if you are going to do it Justin Bieber on an acoustic guitar is a really bad idea. I would be happy to see more of the muppets!

Yes to deleting a half-time show. Cheerleaders would be good, 'though.

I think the American public was the big winner, as many people have noted, it was a positive experience for our self-esteem, and a big boost for the sport here. My city was proud to be a host city, and stepped up with thousands of volunteer workers to help make it happen.

Cheerleaders would be good, 'though.

Totally unnecessary in football. Every team has their own songs and chants led by their support. Aren't they a sexist anachronism these days anyway?

Yes, the halftime show was an embarrassment, almost as bad as Trump lingering like a bad smell while Spain were lifting the cup. Johnny's white trainers with his suit were up there with the wtf moments too.

I have to think the hydration breaks will be here to stay. I read that Fox made a quarter of a billion dollars on the advertising on those breaks alone.

Hopefully Fox won't have as much of a say in how things go in the future. Pandering in such a blatant way to American corporations was a temporary blip I'd hope.

A grand halftime show is as much of an American identity as ranch dressing.

Yes. Save it for American sports. Especially if it involves arbitrarily changing the rules to accommodate it

Wow - what a great game and overall World Cup!

Were you watching the same game as I was? It was boring and dull and Argentina showing what animals they are when competing. As for the excruciating rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and the wholly unnecessary and nauseating halftime show (half time is 15 minutes, this one was 30 minutes!) it's not what football is about. I think the whole tournament has been tainted by corruption and greed. Roll on the Euro's, a much better tournament in my opinion.

It was boring and dull and Argentina showing what animals they are
when competing.

I enjoyed the game even though it was horribly one-sided. We watched it from a local sports bar that was packed to the rafters with casual soccer fans, and one thing that I took away from that as compared to the opinions I'm reading here and European soccer writers is the comment about the "brutality" of the Argentinians. There was very little outrage at the tackles and more laughter at the antics of the players flopping in an attempt to draw fouls and the idea that the game was rough. We kept hoping someone would have enough of the flopping and administer some frontier hockey justice by dropping the mitts and start chucking knuckles.

FTR - the halftime show (WTF was up with the Bieber snoozefest???) was an abomination and should never be done again.

The hydration breaks need to return as "optional" at the ref's discretion and limited to one minute.

Sure, greed is real in sports, but please don't turn world football into US football.

But I loved watching Argentina's goalkeeper hold Spain scoreless for so long. It was a pressure cooker of a game with Spain's goal always seemingly seconds away, and the Argentina goalie just snuffing out shot after shot. When they finally scored, it was a moment of loud cheering (and a "FINALLY!" or two), but then the pressure really started as now Argentina - playing a man down, at that - was seemingly interested in shooting the ball and trying to get back in the game. A few times, I actually thought they were going to do it - again - but they couldn't and the better team (but not the better defense that game) won the title.

“Brutality?” Nah, nobody was being carried off on stretchers. But dirty..yes!

Tom, with all due respect my twelve year old grandson seems to disagree. According to him a great defense is a lot more than a keeper stopping numerous straight on goal attempts. Argentina had zero shots on goal which means Spain’s defense was keeping them out of the box. I will defer to him and just agree that the best team won. :-)

Margie, your grandson is right.
If a goalkeeper has to keep making lots of saves, dramatic or otherwise, it means the defense are not doing their job.
Regarding their dirty tactics, they were a lot more ‘careful’ during the final than they were in previous matches. Regardless of their footballing skills, their behaviour during and after matches has been obnoxious.

And if you haven’t already seen it, the BBC’s World Cup closing montage is worth a watch

https://youtu.be/20FimLY0JQc?si=g_rKP_wI9JTaxD1R