The Footy Travelers Podcast

What happens when a group of creative friends pile into a retro-fitted Soccer Bus, hit the American highways, and follow the heartbeat of U.S. soccer across the country? In this episode, the ClubEleven crew—Gabriel, Pablo, Tyler, and Justin—join The Footy Travelers to share stories from their cross-country journey during the 2025 U.S. soccer season, where they followed the US Open Cup, caught Club World Cup fever, connected with fans and fellow creators, and turned their bus into a rolling tribute to American soccer culture. This episode is for anyone who believes the soul of the sport is found beyond the stadium—but sometimes parked just outside it! Want to know more about ClubEleven's work? Check them out on Instagram: @clubeleven. 00:00 – Intro: A Soccer Bus Story 04:12 – Who Is ClubEleven? 11:20 – Why the Soccer Bus? 18:45 – Life on the Road: Challenges & Chaos 26:10 – US Open Cup Moments & Fan Encounters 35:22 – Creating the Magazine: The Soccer Odyssey 42:47 – The Culture of American Soccer, City by City 51:55 – What's Next for ClubEleven?

Saudi Arabia has been a hot topic in the footy world the last several years. Big name signings. Premier League team ownership. World Cup 2034 hosting. But what is the football scene in Saudi Arabia actually like? In this episode, Colin sits down with Lee Galvin of Matchstay, who traveled to Jeddah and Riyadh to experience the Saudi Pro League for himself. From the myths and misconceptions to the world-class players, matchday vibes, and the impact of a no-alcohol culture, Lee shares how it compares to Europe—and why more fans might want to see it for themselves. Foot(y)notes: Saudi Arabia's World Cup 2034 promotional website: https://saudi2034.com.sa/ Get a more Saudi perspective on the Saudi Pro League with the recent Netflix series: https://www.netflix.com/title/81783473 …or just watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ivIYBD4tfQ Despite no alcohol, Saudi fans can still get rowdy and aggressive—Saudi style! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K0z23ppOkE More info on the Saudi university program Lee mentioned: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20151208190817896 04:37 | The inspiration (and price) for a trip to Saudi 07:48 | Saudi geography and Pro League teams 11:01 | Saudi stadiums and matchday atmosphere 16:06 | The alcohol myth busted 19:11 | Getting to the game and navigating around Saudi Arabian cities 25:57 | The hardest thing to deal with as a Westerner 32:35 | Out of grounds options in Saudi Arabia 38:42 | How to get tickets tothe Saudi Pro League 41:50 | Lee's other international footy travels

What if you built your own global football education—by leaving home, traveling across multiple continents, and going straight to the source? That's exactly what fellow footy traveler Andrew Baggaley, founder of Because Football Media did, as he spent more than a year exploring the globe, visiting football clubs, academies, and fan groups across Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. Whether you're a traditional Premier League fan, a lover of fan culture, or curious about how the global game shapes lives off the pitch, this episode is for you. 03:55 | Prototyping Because Football in Paris at PSG 07:26 | Heading to Ivory Coast for AFCON 10:32 | Connecting with Independiente, River Plate, & Racing Club 15:44 | Why Port Vale? And... who...is Port Vale exactly? 17:48 | Eastern Europe on the way to the Far East 20:23 | Comparing footy cultures across Southeast Asia 25:33 | What the world taught Andrew about American soccer 32:27 | The first ever soccer game in the US 35:49 | Coming Soon: The "Road Trip to the World Cup" Series Check out our new YouTube channel! Don't miss our monthly newsletter for footy // travel news from every corner of the globe Follow us on Instagram: @footytravelers Join us on one of our trips (our next one is to Mexico City)!

On September 11, 2001, American journalist and fellow footy traveler Ken McDonald was thousands of miles from home—at Anfield, watching Liverpool play Boa Vista in the Champions League. In this powerful conversation, Ken shares what it was like to learn about the 9/11 attacks while abroad, how Scousers responded, and the story behind an unforgettable, homemade tifo that made the highlight reels that night. He also reflects on what truly makes footy traveling so meaningful—and spoiler: it's not what you think. 00:29 | Ken's notable background 03:28 | Liverpool vs Boa Vista in the Champions League 07:57 | "The Kop stands with our friends in America" 15:49 | Flying back to America 20:05 | Why Ken doesn't process 9/11 like most Americans 24:17 | Traveling thousands of miles for 2 hours of sport? Worth it! 26:06 | Ken's sales pitch for lower league football 31:37 | Footy scran Check out our new YouTube channel! Don't miss our monthly newsletter for footy // travel news from every corner of the globe Follow us on Instagram: @footytravelers Join us on one of our trips (our next one is to Mexico City)!

The first sales window for tickets to the 2026 World Cup consists of an application period that opens on September 10th and closes on September 19th (2025), and there's a major change to the process this time around. In this episode, we'll break down the 5 biggest things you need to know to be prepared to score tickets to the world's greatest sporting event! 00:00 | Catcing up on 2025 09:15 | Question 1: HOW does Phase 1 of World Cup 2026 ticket sales actually work? 12:20 | Question 2: WHEN does Phase 1 of World Cup 2026 ticket sales happen? 13:04 | Question 3: WHO can apply for World Cup 2026 tickets during Phase 1? 14:12 | Question 4: HOW does FIFA notify successful Phase 2 applicants? 14:52 | Question 5: WHEN can I actually buy World Cup 2026 match tickets? 20:13 | Predictions on further Phase 1 details and additional sales phases 26:35 | Recommendations for how to approach World Cup 2026 tickets sales Check out our new YouTube channel! Sign up for our monthly newsletter for footy // travel news from every corner of the globe Follow us on Instagram: @footytravelers Join us on one of our trips (our next one is to Mexico City)!

When the dog bites, when the bee sti— Oooh! Eh ehm. Excuse us. Didn't see you there. Just warming up the vocal chords for our 2024 FAVORITE THINGS EPISODE!!! Comment on our recently pinned Instagram or X posts to let us know what you think about our picks, your favorites, or any footy travel suggestions you have for us in 2025! Foot(y)notes: Here are some of our favorite things worth checking out ASAP… Jimmy Rees Instagram Reel on "The Guy Who Decides the Premier League" "Once In a Lifetime" on YouTube (by Eli Mengem and Copa 90) "Welcome to Wrexham" on FX The Mobile Passport app from US Customs and Border Patrol 02:43 | Mike has an offer 05:39 | Mike gives the rundown 07:33 | TOP 5 Matches & Travel Experiences - COLIN 15:02 | TOP 5 Matches & Travel Experiences - MIKE 25:47 | TOP 4 Media & Content Pieces - COLIN 35:31 | TOP 4 Media & Content Pieces - MIKE 46:53 | TOP 3 Travel Tips & Lessons Learned - COLIN 51:01 | TOP 3 Travel Tips & Lessons Learned - MIKE 58:10 | TOP 2 Things to look forward to in 2025 - MIKE 01:00:41 | TOP 2 Things to look forward to in 2025 - COLIN 01:03:49 | BIGGEST 2024 Takeaway - MIKE 01:08:25 | BIGGEST 2024 Takeaway - COLIN

Think having your honeymoon covered by your favorite football club is nothing but a pipe dream? Well wake up and listen to this special BONUS episode, where we sit down with Matthew Eide from Far Away Football (check out Ep 73 if you missed his other incredible stories!) to reveal how he scored an all-expenses-paid getaway to the Seychelles, courtesy of Manchester City and their corporate powerhouse sponsor. And don't forget to leave us a rating and review if you're as amazed by his story as we are! Watch the story unfold, including the moment Matthew & Liz discover the Premier League Champions trophy in their suite. *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *JOIN US ON OUR NEXT TRIP* Head to FootyTravelers.com to learn more about our UK trip in November/December and how you can join us on all the footy travel adventure we have planned! Or hop directly onto the waitlist.

Fellow footy travelers experience the game outside their hometowns all the time, but have you ever wondered what it's like to be a globe-trotting footy fan with multiple once-in-a-lifetime experiences? In this episode, Matthew Eide of Far Away Football takes us on an absolute journey! From a 10-goal spectacle in a Bhutanese stadium fit for a king, to two unforgettable footy moments in the Seychelles, this is one episode you won't want to miss. With professional soccer connections stretching as far as the Solomon Islands, Matthew might even have a surprise for you at the end of this one (wink wink)! Foot(y)notes: SPOILER ALERT: If you want to listen to the BONUS Episode with Matthew before its release next week, simply head to footytravelers.com/podcast If you're planning a trip to Bhutan, know before you go. Show your love for the global game with an Icarus FC kit of your own! Follow Thimphu City FC on Instagram and tell them that you heard about them in this episode. *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! PLUS YOU CAN WIN A FOOTY TRAVELERS SWAG BAG... If you email us ([email protected]) a screenshot of your recent review, and your mailing address, we'll send one your way!

Would you walk 500 miles just to be the man who walked 500 miles to see a footy match? Today's guest would. In fact, he did! Join us as we talk with Tom Stoker, a Three Lions fan who marched from Manchester to Gelsenkirchen this past summer to witness England's EURO 2024 opening match against Serbia at Arena AufSchalke (aka Veltins-Arena for sponsorship reasons). For more on Tom's journey, check out his Instagram account. 04:41 | Getting to know Tom's skill set(s) 08:08 | Walking across Wales 10:10 | The planning phase 12:44 | Tom's long walk stats & countries visited 15:25 | "Tent" Alexander-Arnold 18:50 | But did Tom actually make it?! 23:17 | Tom goes full-kit wanker & a Kyle Walker appearance 27:04 | A Morrisons meal gone wrong 32:05 | Tom's take on English fans 37:03 | Mike "walks" us into rapid fire 44:07 | Tom's "Final" satisfaction *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *JOIN US ON OUR NEXT TRIP* Head to FootyTravelers.com to learn more about our UK trip in November/December and how you can join us on all the footy travel adventure we have planned! Or hop directly onto the waitlist. *GEAR UP* You can also head to FootyTravelers.com to visit our fan shop and gear up with limited edition jerseys and supporters scarves. *This episode features music by The Proclaimers. All rights to the song are owned by The Proclaimers, and we do not claim any ownership over the copyrighted material.

Forget Raygun, the FFTs are at Paris 2024 for the footy! Join guests Ronny of the Football Misfits Podcast, Jesse M, Mark C, Merritt H, & Barry J for an on-the-ground look at what it was like for American footy travelers who attended this summer's Olympic games. We'll talk about tickets, atmosphere, and some freaky deaky Dutch crowdsurfing at the biggest orgy of sports there is! 04:22 | The Football Misfits "On Location" 05:42 | Olympic ticketing processes 07:35 | Olympic football ticket prices 09:20 | Why Men's Olympic soccer is for ballers 12:03 | Why the atmosphere for Olympic soccer is like Coachella 13:13 | Olympic soccer lacks teams (women's) and superstars (men's) 15:00 | Major soccer tournament rankings 16:26 | How the Olympics is bigger than the World Cup 17:32 | Dutch crowdsurfing 18:02 | The World Cup takes the cake, but the Olympics is... better?! *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS* Race2Adventure From the stunning scenery of Chile to the captivating allure of New Zealand – R2A invites you to join them on an exhilarating vacation around the world. Their 8-night adventures are tailor-made for fitness enthusiasts, explorers, and travel aficionados who crave more from their vacations. With R2A, you don't just visit a destination; you become a part of it.

We are back together in today's episode to talk all about our Intercontinental Summer Tour: our 18-day North American and European adventure that had us at both the Copa America and Euro 2024, attending a total of 7 tournament matches, 5 of which, between the two of us were in 5 different cities, on 5 consecutive days, and… as you can probably guess, across 2 different continents. Passionate? We are. A bit crazy? Perhaps. Borderline psychotic?… we… are… seeing someone about that. Labels aside, in this episode we run through our itinerary, answer a listener FFT question, and leave you with some great footy travel tips from our whirlwind summer. Foot(y)notes: Footy Travelers scarves for sale in the Footy Travelers Fan Shop! Or… Sign up for the best damn Fantasy Premier League out there! Email… wait for it… [email protected] to register. There's a PL-season-long head-to-head option, and two survivor leagues that split each half of the 38 match-week PL season. Footy Travelers scarves and cash prizes up for grabs! If you want more info on the CBP Mobile Passport option Mike mentions, check it out here. Or check out Global Entry. Colin loves using his on international footy travels. In Germany? Thirsty? Not a beer drinker? Try apfelwein! 03:19 | The Intercontinental Summer Tour Itinerary: Copa America + Euro 2024 12:43 | Lunatic Colin says, "Hold my beer!" and flies cross-country again 14:26 | A great Fantasy Premier League opportunity! 15:32 | Mike's personal highlights 21:02 | Colin's personal highlights 28:06 | Travel tips & lessons learned 29:18 | Discussing German beers 38:55 | German train travel 45:33 | Death to FlixBus! 48:55 | Travel tips on EU departures and US re-entry 52:03 | Final travel tip - save for World Cup 2026!

In a riveting episode we weren't necessarily planning on, we dive deep into the pandemonium that unfolded ahead of the Copa America Final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL on Sunday, July 14. We're joined by four FFTs who were there that evening, as well as one who attended the previous Colombia match (the Copa semi-final), each bringing a unique perspective on the chaotic events of that unforgettable night. Guests: Najjah Calibur - International match host who has performed recently at World Cup 2022 & AFC Asian Cup 2023. Najjah was the stadium MC that night. Shirley Checa - Argentina fan who followed the team throughout the Copa America. Monica Bosiljevac - A fellow footy traveler, USA and Jamaica supporter who ultimately did not make it into the stadium. Cheyenne Foster - Footy fan vlogger and American soccer fanatic currently footy traveling via van life. Danny Navarro - Colombian fan originally from Miami who offers his thoughts on fellow Colombian fans, both those at the Copa Final and at large. Part 2: 01:14 | Monica's perspective from an aerial view 06:37 | Watching a cop padlock the gates 08:01 | "The stadium is at capacity" 13:02 | Cheyenne's last minute decision to attend 20:03 | No security or ticket checks 22:29 | An argument over seats 28:59 | (Some) final thoughts... 35:20 | ...y la palabra última Further Reading: There's plenty of 'journalistic' perspectives on this too… Here's one from the Washington Post's Sunday night report, and one from Bleacher Report. Here's another one from CBS News. Our personal favorite, though, was The Athletic's live blog page for Copa America Final. Alexis Mac Allister's mother, Silvina, describes the experience of entering the stadium as "inhumane" (note: video esta en Español) Finally, here's Fox's Alexi Lalas (a totally noncontroversial voice in the soccer space) with his take on things

In a riveting episode we weren't necessarily planning on, we dive deep into the pandemonium that unfolded ahead of the Copa America Final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL on Sunday, July 14. We're joined by four FFTs who were there that evening, as well as one who attended the previous Colombia match (the Copa semi-final), each bringing a unique perspective on the chaotic events of that unforgettable night. Guests: Najjah Calibur - International match host who has performed recently at World Cup 2022 & AFC Asian Cup 2023. Najjah was the stadium MC that night. Shirley Checa - Argentina fan who followed the team throughout the Copa America. Monica Bosiljevac - A fellow footy traveler, USA and Jamaica supporter who ultimately did not make it into the stadium. Cheyenne Foster - Footy fan vlogger and American soccer fanatic currently footy traveling via van life. Danny Navarro - Colombian fan originally from Miami who offers his thoughts on fellow Colombian fans, both those at the Copa Final and at large. Part 1: 00:49 | Recap of events ahead of kick-off 05:43 | Najjah's report from inside the stadium 14:01 | Shirley recalls the chaos and stress outside the gates 22:25 | Panic attacks and crying children 30:02 | People sitting in the aisles and in other people's seats Further Reading: There's plenty of 'journalistic' perspectives on this too… Here's one from the Washington Post's Sunday night report, and one from Bleacher Report. Here's another one from CBS News. Our personal favorite, though, was The Athletic's live blog page for Copa America Final. Alexis Mac Allister's mother, Silvina, describes the experience of entering the stadium as "inhumane" (note: video esta en Español) Finally, here's Fox's Alexi Lalas (a totally noncontroversial voice in the soccer space) with his take on things

Euros and Copa America are finally both underway, and the Footy Travelers are about to take flight to games for both tournaments. So what better way to get into the mood than a conversation about European football, its American counterpart, and some fun Copa America events happening this summer with the Scuffed Podcast's Adam Belz? Tune in, get (even more) stoked for all the footy to be watched, and get ready for the Footy Travelers Intercontinental Summer Tour - a crazy thing you can follow on Instagram if you're bored (@footytravelers). Foot(y)notes: This is the ground we all had a good laugh about with the train running through it. Old Firm (Rangers vs Celtic) away fans haven't been permitted for awhile, but that's about to change. Check out the Scuffed Podcast's website. 02:32 | Some weird shit about Swiss cows and cheese 07:19 | The idea for a footy trip to Italy 08:16 | Juventus vs AC Milan 09:16 | Venezia playing for promotion 10:00 | San Siro tour 11:00 | The stadium in Como 17:28 | Comparing AMerican and Italian soccer culture 28:06 | The Footy Traveler "Glow" 31:54 | Plans for Copa and where to watch 38:06 | The sense of the collective during the World Cup *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *VISIT THE FOOTY TRAVELERS FAN SHOP* Head to our new fan shop to 'Kop' an exclusive Footy Travelers 'Away' jersey, or score a custom-designed supporters' scarf. Hurry though! Jerseys are nearly sold out and scarf supplies won't last long! *SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS* Race2Adventure From the stunning scenery of Chile to the captivating allure of New Zealand – R2A invites you to join them on an exhilarating vacation around the world. Their 8-night adventures are tailor-made for fitness enthusiasts, explorers, and travel aficionados who crave more from their vacations. With R2A, you don't just visit a destination; you become a part of it.

In this episode, join Colin and Mike as they prepare for their EURO 2024 journey! Chock full of hearty laughs as they make hilarious, but objectively terrible, attempts at pronouncing* German city names — who knew Gelsenkirchen could be such a tongue twister?! - this episode has everything you need to know (NTK) about inter-city travel and things to do 'beyond the grounds' in each of Germany's host cities. Spoiler alert: there will be plenty of opportunities to drop into a biergarten! Foot(y)notes: Don't miss the official event guide for EURO 2024, with all the details you need for a successful trip There's also the Euro 2024 app and the UEFA Mobile Tickets app Check out Ben's FFT Travel Tip on Lindner Hotels in Germany *This episode was produced in partnership with Video Puppet's Narakeet 01:13 | Introducing 'Scottish Mike' 02:20 | FFT Introductions 06:23 | Travel tip: How to book cheap business class flights to Europe 09:29 | Travel tip: How to book cheap hotels with points in Germany 11:55 | Train travel discounts during EURO 2024 13:58 | Mobile apps you will need for EURO 2024 17:03 | Adam Belz of the Scuffed Podcast and their recent Euro-trip 25:19 | The Footy Travelers' complete (horrendously pronounced) out-of-grounds host city guide for EURO 2024 *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *VISIT THE FOOTY TRAVELERS FAN SHOP* Head to our new fan shop to 'Kop' an exclusive Footy Travelers 'Away' jersey, or score a custom-designed supporters' scarf. Hurry though! Jerseys are nearly sold out and scarf supplies won't last long! *SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS* Race2Adventure From the stunning scenery of Chile to the captivating allure of New Zealand – R2A invites you to join them on an exhilarating vacation around the world. Their 8-night adventures are tailor-made for fitness enthusiasts, explorers, and travel aficionados who crave more from their vacations. With R2A, you don't just visit a destination; you become a part of it.

We don't encourage self-pity, but after this past Championship Sunday in the Premier League, Colin is looking for a little pick-me-up. Luckily, the Footy Travelers podcast isn't just informative, well-traveled stories, but ones that might warm your heart as well. And this week's episode is exactly that - a story of the 'invincible' kindness of one of Arsenal's medical staff in bringing a truly transformative footy travel adventure to life for a total stranger, specifically a young boy, Ryan Surrell, from the D.C./Maryland area. Cheeky Arsenal v Chelsea banter provided at no additional cost. 06:31 | Ryan tries to inject some footy into the family trip 07:28 | The Messi jersey giveaway 08:50 | The big reveal 11:05 | "I got you the tickets!" 14:36 | Lin Manuel Miranda in London 16:45 | Ryan the history buff 19:49 | Ryan shows off his trash talk skills 21:45 | Ryan's negotiation skills pin Mike against the ropes 26:12 | So who was this Arsenal doctor?! Foot(y)notes: Colin might make bitter comments about money buying trophies, but is he completely off-base? This thorough analysis by the Swiss Ramble is well-worth a read (full version requires subscription). As a graceful guest, Mitra wouldn't reveal the Arsenal medical staff who gifted Ryan tickets, but Transfermrkt isn't as dignified (surely it was one of these fine people). Mike avoided having to wear an Arsenal kit for an entire 90-minute match this summer, but will he bet against them next year? How Ryan lost his bet against Chelsea. GO SUPPORT THE CRAIG WILLINGER FUND! *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *VISIT THE FOOTY TRAVELERS FAN SHOP* Head to our new fan shop to 'Kop' an exclusive Footy Travelers 'Away' jersey, or score a custom-designed supporters' scarf. Hurry though! Jerseys are nearly sold out and scarf supplies won't last long! *SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS* Race2Adventure From the stunning scenery of Chile to the captivating allure of New Zealand – R2A invites you to join them on an exhilarating vacation around the world. Their 8-night adventures are tailor-made for fitness enthusiasts, explorers, and travel aficionados who crave more from their vacations. With R2A, you don't just visit a destination; you become a part of it.

They say the clothes make the man. Although we would say, the clothes make the fan. Especially if that fan is heading into a stadium for a club match. Wearing away gear. And is not planning on sitting in the away supporters section. In which case, we say, the clothes make the fan… a target. In today's episode, our guest, FFT Rob Cervantes, shares an experience he had recently wearing Crystal Palace gear into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - and then promptly getting kicked out. It's a story that comes with a lesson for all footy travelers: know before you go. 03:58 | Presenting Rob a very prestigious, highly sought-after award 06:22 | A visualization exercise 08:04 | Rob identifies as a Palace supporter 09:16 | Locating the seats, assuming they're GA 13:22 | Approached by the steward, "You gotta go" 17:52 | A very lonely train ride 24:22 | Some ideas for playing it safe and a Jedi mind trick 28:22 | Rob gets a further suspension 30:37 | Gaining final clarity 36:06 | Colin twists the knife 38:03 | The official policies of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium "Premium" areas Foot(y)notes: Rob said his seats were in a "midfield" section of the stadium, near the club suites, which sounds like a "premium area". After our conversation, we found these rules for premium areas on the stadium's website. England is the most sought-after place to watch club football in the world right now, which is leading to more away fans getting a ticket among the home fans. Poor Harry Kane. Once a (trophyless) Spur, always a (trophyless) Spur. All the goals Rob missed seeing that now infamous day. *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *VISIT THE FOOTY TRAVELERS FAN SHOP* Head to our new fan shop to 'Kop' an exclusive Footy Travelers 'Away' jersey, or score a custom-designed supporters' scarf. Hurry though! Jerseys are nearly sold out and scarf supplies won't last long! *SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS* Race2Adventure From the stunning scenery of Chile to the captivating allure of New Zealand – R2A invites you to join them on an exhilarating vacation around the world. Their 8-night adventures are tailor-made for fitness enthusiasts, explorers, and travel aficionados who crave more from their vacations. With R2A, you don't just visit a destination; you become a part of it.

World Cup 2022 was a bizarre story that began in 2010, over a decade before the tournament even kicked off. It was (still is we suppose) a story centered on corruption, human rights, and a gaudy display of power and wealth. It was also a bizarre experience on the ground, for fans, journalists, and even the teams playing (probably). It was made even more bizarre for American fans, and in particular fans, friends, and family of journalist Grant Wahl after Grant collapsed in the press box of the Argentina/Netherlands quarterfinal, and was later pronounced dead at Hamad General Hospital. Anyone who knew Grant, or at least his journalism, knows that he was a special human. He was an advocate, and before his death was famously detained outside Al Bayt Stadium early on at World Cup 2022 for wearing a rainbow on his t-shirt. But Grant wasn't the only person who experienced this. In today's episode, we hear from Brian Davis, a fellow footy traveler who had met Grant through US Soccer circles, and who had a similar experience in Qatar. Part 1: 0:49 | Death & taxes 2:27 | Recalling the 'scandals' of World Cup Qatar 2022 3:44 | Grant Wahl's final reports 8:53 | How to get your wife to an away WCQ 15:01 | Meeting Fernando Fiore and Rob Stone 17:15 | Meeting Grant Wahl Part 2: 21:19 | Sharing Grant's experience with rainbows in Qatar 24:10 | Things get physical 30:10 | The State Department is calling Foot(y)notes: Grant Wahl's "Qatar Chronicles" leading up to World Cup 2022: Part 1 and Part 2 Grant's original Tweet about getting held up outside Ahmed bin Ali Stadium ahead of USA v Wales Grant's brother Eric's video reaction to news of Grant's death Rob Stone's touching tribute to Grant on Fox's WC22 broadcast Dr. Céline Gounder's (Grant's wife) explanation of Grant's cause of death Coming in June: The best of Grant Wahl

...as in "In Real Life" (we know Wrexham isn't in Ireland - duh!). That's right! Today's guests went and lived out your favorite footy documentary (or Mike's at least) in person. Join us as we chat with return FTP guests Mark "Eagleman" Cranston and Lila "Wonder Woman" Asnani about their recent trip to Wales for Wrexham home and away matches, and, of course, some great travel tips - not the least of which is how to get your hands on some sometimes hard-to-come-by match tickets. Foot(y)notes: Learn more about Mark & Lila's trip to Wrexham and how to make yours happen by visiting Mark's website: EaglemanSoccer.com Check out the full "Always Sunny in Wrexham" song by the Declan Swans... ...and their YouTube homepage. Yes, Mark knows Roger Bennett. 03:42 | Cien 'Dos a Cero's 05:35 | Finding an English League team 06:55 | Getting to Wrexham 08:56 | Staying in Wrexham 10:07 | Getting around in Wrexham 11:37 | Night before (NB4) party 14:02 | (Officially) Welcomed to Wrexham 15:22 | "Less than a mile from the centre of town..." 17:18 | Getting match tickets 19:10 | Meeting Wayne Jones 'on his Turf' 21:40 | Price of Wrexham tickets 22:39 | Wrexham away days 25:01 | (Less than) 15 minutes of fame 27:40 | The Racecourse + where to sit 31:20 | Celebrity sightings 32:43 | What to wear to a match 35:42 | Welcome to Wales + What to do in and around Wrexham 37:59 | The most picturesque area in Europe 43:14 | "Up the Town!" *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *VISIT THE FOOTY TRAVELERS FAN SHOP* Head to our new fan shop to 'Kop' an exclusive Footy Travelers 'Away' jersey, or score a custom-designed supporters' scarf. Hurry though! Jerseys are nearly sold out and scarf supplies won't last long! *SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS* Race2Adventure From the stunning scenery of Chile to the captivating allure of New Zealand – R2A invites you to join them on an exhilarating vacation around the world. Their 8-night adventures are tailor-made for fitness enthusiasts, explorers, and travel aficionados who crave more from their vacations. With R2A, you don't just visit a destination; you become a part of it.

One question we've been asked a lot recently is whether or not we're planning to attend and cover any Olympic soccer matches this summer in Paris. We will be in Europe for EURO 2024 in Germany after all. Sadly though, we can't do it all. So, we figured we'd deliver the next best thing. In today's episode we're bringing you a recent conversation with French Football Superfans Pascal, Joris, & Lennie - a father, son and daughter trio we met in Qatar during World Cup 2022. And if you're a fan who pays attention to all the micro-events happening around international soccer - for example, things like the World Cup draw - chances are you've seen at least one of them yourselves. That's because Joris (15) and Lennie (11), under the guidance of Pascal of course, have been footy travelers since at least the age of 2, and they have had some incredibly unique and high profile experiences you're going to love hearing about! They also share some local insights for the upcoming Olympics being hosted in Paris. Foot(y)notes: Watch Joris walk out on stage at the Qatar 2022 World Cup Draw with Didier Deschamps. Follow Pascal, Joris, Lennie, and their continual footy travel adventures on their Instagram account (@FootSouvenir). Here's more info on tickets to Olympic footy this summer in Paris. Zidane's final moments as a footballer... and the video that Pascal avoided for 25 years. *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *VISIT THE FOOTY TRAVELERS FAN SHOP* Head to our new fan shop to cop an exclusive Footy Travelers 'Away' jersey, or score a custom-designed supporters' scarf. Hurry though! Jerseys are nearly sold out and scarf supplies won't last long! *SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS* Journey to the Games - "Paris is calling!" If you're still looking for accomodation in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, email Merritt Hopper, Founder & Event Director for Journey to the Games at: [email protected]