Survival guide to the FIFA world cup

With the World Cup just days away some of you may have already purchased your team's official jersey, are preparing to host a party, just attend one, take in the random pub scene, or are practicing your happy dance ahead of street celebrations.

But how does one survive this period, maximizing the excitement, riding the hype, and getting through the disappointments?

If you're young or old, a novice or an expert, here is my guide to the FIFA World Cup, based on the 6 tournaments I have survived.


1) Pick a Team

Decorated Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni is once said "there is no such thing as an [Italian] national team fan". Ok Trap, Italy is seldom the neutral fan's darling, but with only 32 teams making the World Cup, someone's bound to get left out. Bottom line: even if your nation did not qualify pick ONE team that you support fully, from the start and make it public. Tell your friends, put a twibbon on your twitter profile, get a small flag on your car to show your support. Now, just because you support one team it doesn't mean that you cannot sympathize for another (note the semantic difference). An emerging, less-storied side for instance. Picking a team of course will help you get into the tournament.


2) Enter a Pool

How far will England go this world cup?

Brazil's a sitter for the final!

Argentina will take it all, and Mess will be recognized as the greatest player, ever.

Simply put, entering a pool will definitely up the ante on how closely you follow and care about each game. Including Iran-Bosnia.


3) When to Watch Games

Obvious, n'est pas? LIVE! Well not all of us have that luxury as games take place over work hours. So, in comes the "2 hr lunch" starting at noon in New York, or at 1pm in Chicago. 

If you're stuck at work and have your own ritual for watching games at home, then you're probably a "bubble boy" like myself: lock yourself in a cone of silence cutting yourself off from all relevant information sources (web, twitter, Facebook, honking cars, etc) until you get home. This strategy may work for North Americans during the Champions League but is almost a sure fail come World Cup time. Too many people are talking about it on the commute over, cars are honking and bearing flags out of the sunroof. Not a winning strategy.


4) Where to Watch Games

This is where the fanatics are separated from the enthusiasts. 

The fanatic typically has a certain chair, spot on the couch, food, drink, good luck charm or ritual (this may include a certain friend or group of friends), ritual or charm to fend off bad luck (this may mean not watching the game with someone). The possibilities are many, often transcending sanity.

The enthusiast typically will watch the game in company, at a cafè or a bar, or at a house party. This is not to say that they are not keenly interested in the match but they don't necessarily see it as a matter of life and death.


5) Relationship Management

If your significant other is more knowledgeable than you, engage them by asking questions about players and rules in matches that don't involve his/her favorite team. He/she will have more patience to explain.

If you happen to be the more knowledgeable one, pick a game that's least interesting to you (some first rounders may be a good choice) and invite them to ask all the questions they want. Making it a "thing" complete w his/her favourite tv snack food (e.g., popcorn) and a beverage will help. Consider the opening game since it includes the opening ceremonies: your partner may like the musical act or the choreography.

If your significant other understands the rules but has grown tired of the game, or if you've tried to explain this before and it hasn't worked, you may want to either tie the match's outcome to something unrelated (let your imagination run wild) or completely isolate yourself from them (watch a game you cannot miss with friends) for a few games to give them a break.


6) Hotspots

Some neighborhoods/bars/street corners are known to be meeting spots for fans of one or more teams.

My advice is to generally stay out of such hotspots if the team you support, and whose colours/jersey you're donning, just played against the team that's generally supported - especially if they lost. Unless of course you're in the mood for an altercation.

What about areas in transition? In Toronto, St. Clair Avenue between Dufferin and Landsdowne is one of these. It's known as Corso Italia, but has seen an influx of people of Portuguese descent move in. Until today, the two contingents have been able to coexist more or less harmoniously, but woe be onto the day that Italy face Portugal or Brazil. My advice for areas in transition: tread lightly and don't check you common sense at the door.

So, now you have your survival kit. Oh one more tip: enjoy it and cherish the good times. Happy World Cup to all!