The World Cup starts today

Photo by Patrick Jones. Red Square, Moscow. 16 March 2014.

The FIFA World Cup kicks off today in Russia. I'm a huge fan of the game and am looking forward to cheering on several teams this month. While the US Mens National Team didn't qualify, there are other teams to follow. Marketers in the US have caught on too, encouraging fans to "cheer for their roots" and support countries where you had ancestors. For me this means Mexico, but outside of those DNA connections I will also be cheering on underdog Iceland.

I will be in Panama soon, a country playing in its first World Cup. It should make for a good atmosphere down there, and in case they pull an upset over England and Tunisia, the country may make it a national holiday.