My World Cup Life

 At some times and about some topics, some people reflect...

In 1966, while living in London, at age 8, my team (England) won the World Cup. I watched it on a blurry black and white TV with my cousin Joanie and with Jennifer (the au pair). England beat Germany in the final. Goals were scored at the last minute of regular time and in the last seconds of overtime. At that time, I was playing on the 10 and Under team for my school, Herewood House.

Living in London in the Mid 1960s

In 1974, I was in London with my cousin Geoff during the Cup. We watched a ton of games on TV mostly being astounded by Gert Muller's ability to turn, move the defense man out of place, and to shoot and score. He was predictable but unstoppable and led the Germans to victory. At the time, I was playing high school soccer.

Bethesda Chevy Chase
High School Soccer

In 1978, my Dad took my brothers and me to Comsat Labs, which he ran, to see the World Cup final. At that time, it was not broadcast in the USA but Comsat had a direct satellite feed and lots of international types committed to see the game.  The TV was small and blurry, there were maybe 50 of us trying to watch the game.  Argentina beat the Netherlands who were pioneering the Total Football strategy.  At the time, I was playing college soccer.

 In April of 1981, while in the Peace Corps, I travelled with my team - St Colombe de Sangmelima - up to Yaounde to watch the Cameroonian team - The Indomnitable Lions - play their final qualification match against Zaire. They won and qualified for the 1982 World Cup and as many locals said to me after they qualified for the finals: While you come from the USA - a military superpower - we come from Cameroon which is an International Football Superpower!

St Colombe de Sangmelima
L'Equip de 1981

In 1986, with Bill and Jose, I spent a month in Mexico travelling to Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara to watch the 1986 World Cup.  What a blast! Somehow, there aren't any pictures that I can find of us in the stadiums.  Back then,  I was playing on my business school soccer team.

Mexico 1986

HBS Indoor Soccer Team 1986

Mexico 1986

 

In 1994, the  World Cup was in the USA, I had tickets with my two brothers to all the games at the Stanford Stadium. Ironically, it looked at one point that since my job had changed and I was now responsible for international, I would have to skip a game to host an important international meeting. Instead, I surprised the heck out of my new colleagues by jiggling the schedule with them and taking them to see a World Cup game. At the time, I was playing in rec leagues and my company - SGI - had a team.  

SGI team ~1990

In 1998, I started watching the Cup while living in England.  That was one of England's best chances to bring the Cup home. Sadly, it was not to be. France beat Brazil in the final with Zazu (Zidane) as the star. At the time, I was playing on the Argonaut Games soccer team (no pictures?).  But I moved back to the US that summer and I watched the French win the final on a wall size high res TV (really cutting edge back then) at George Ligeti's house in Boca.

Like so many, I watched my first women's world cup in 1999. The USA won! The winning goal scorer's celebration made the cover of many magazines.  Her name is Brandi.

Brandi Celebrating the W!

 A few weeks after it, I had dinner with Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy.  Was that her reward for winning the Cup?

Brandi Chastain, John Edelson, Julie Foudy

If you're a World Cup fan, you should see the Copa 71 film (2023). It tells the story of the pioneering 1971 Women's World Cup held in Mexico, which drew crowds of over 100,000. FIFA subsequently erased erased it from official sporting history but it's quite a story!

So the last Cup that I attended was in 1994 but I have followed all the Cups since then avidly. France won in 1998 in France. I watched the final at George's. Brazil (with Ronaldo) beat Germany in the final in 2002. I think I was back at George's.  Italy beat France (Zazu's last game) in a shoot out in 2006 in Germany. I watched the final at Harry's. In 2010, Spain beat the Netherlands in the final in South Africa and again, I was up at George's. Germany beat Argentina in 2014 in Brazil. France beat Croatia in the 2018 final held in Russia (How times change! Russia - since attacking Ukraine - has not been allowed to play in the Cup). And Argentina beat France in Qatar in a thrilling final in 2022. I was at a watch party in my condo building's common room. Mbappe scored a hat trick (3 goals), Messi scored 2 but the game was won by Argentina in a penalty shoot out. Astounding!

I watched on these on big screen TVs and in the comfort of my home or friends' homes or in a bar.  I surprise myself this year that with the Miami games within driving distance, I do not get off my duff and go to the games.  I think about it...

But then I think about the high resolution TV that I have at home,  my zero gravity chairs, and all the traffic and heat involved in going to the games and... at age 68... I'm good watching the games from home. To make me feel better, a truck with a large cup replica stopped by this week for a photo op with me. And I keep track of the cup on a poster and I buy a few national jerseys to wear around the house.

  

And why do I reflect on this? I don't really know but during recent cups, I find myself thinking thru the many cups that I've watched remembering the different people that I've watched with, and the various restaurants, pubs, and bars where I've watched games.  It's a sort of life inventory. 

Most importantly, by writing it down rather than talking it thru with my kids, wife, and friends, I avoid being the biggest bore of all time.  Writing (journaling or blogging if you will) is a way that I can semi-privately express my gratitude for a lifetime full of wonderful world cups.

That's John Edelson's World Cup life so far.  

Did I mention that at the 1986 World Cup, I ran into Pele in 1982 at 2 in the morning? He was coming into a club when I was leaving.  We made eye contact: He smiled beneficently, I went down on one knee and bowed. As everyone else did.

 Also, I ran into Messi recently in a local parking lot here in Ft Lauderdale. I saw him but I don't think he looked at me. He didn't bother me and I didn't bother him. But I sure would have liked that selfie...

One more thought, this time about the professional club teams that I've seen in my hometown of DC. Anybody else remember?

The Washington Whips
The Washington Darts
The Washington Diplomats - I particularly liked the Diplomats since they played in a high school stadium and we could get close to the field and players.  Pele and tons of other Greats were playing for the Cosmos so we could watch them play up close and personal.