As you're packing up your things for move-out day, cramming for finals and pulling all-nighters to finish that paper you should have done two weeks ago, summer's in the back of your head. You have so many plans for break, whether it's working, visiting family, playing sports, or traveling the world. Across the world, in Russia, the world's biggest sporting event will be unfolding. As a huge soccer fan, the World Cup is super important to me. In fact, the 2014 edition in Brazil is what made me fall in love with the sport. Even if soccer isn't your cup of tea, and even if the US won't be participating, here are just a few reasons why you should watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer.
1. It's fun to watch.
The 2014 World Cup had some real thrillers, and definitely some shock results. I mean, who was expecting Germany (current world champions) to thrash Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final? It's fun to just watch some of the matches and enjoy the different styles of soccer some countries play, especially if they're really good teams like Spain, Argentina, Germany, or Belgium.
2. It's the most-watched sporting event in the world.
In 2014, more than 3.2 billion people watched the World Cup, and over 1 billion tuned in to watch the final between Germany and Argentina. That's one out of every seven people on the planet that saw the final. Unbelievable.
3. The antics that ensue on the pitch.
Not only are the games exciting (except when England has yet another 0-0 tie), but some crazy stuff has happened on the field in past World Cups. In 2006, France's Zinedine Zidane headbutted an Italian defender during the final. In 2014, Uruguay forward Luis Suarez bit another player (and claimed that he didn't bite him, he hit his face on the other guy).
4. You can support your roots.
Since the US won't be heading over to Russia this summer, I'll be rooting for England and France instead. Not just because they're strong teams, but because I feel strongly connected to my English and French ancestry. It can be really fun to follow a certain country through their World Cup journey (as a new fan in 2014, I followed Germany after the US got knocked out). It can be especially meaningful if you follow the country of your ancestors (except if you're Irish, Dutch or Italian since they didn't qualify).
5. It's an excuse to party and meet new people.
Going to a restaurant or bar to watch soccer can be exciting. While the people around you may be drunk, it's still a great way to meet new people and de-stress after a long day. Or, you can always get a bunch of friends or your family together to watch a big match (one to watch: Portugal vs. Spain on June 15).
6. The two best players in the world will be there.
There's been a debate going on for years over which of these talented players is better: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. No matter which one you choose, or even if you don't care for soccer, both of them are very exciting to watch and incredibly gifted players. Both of them will be in Russia this summer, with Ronaldo's Portugal having won the European Championships in 2016 and Messi's Argentina a strong contender for the World Cup trophy.
7. Iceland.
Nobody was ever expecting a country of 330,000 people (smaller than my hometown of Columbus!) to qualify for the biggest sports event in the world. After a strong Euro 2016 campaign, in which they beat England, Iceland is making waves in qualifying for their first-ever World Cup, qualifying over very strong countries like the Netherlands, Italy and Wales. Their fans are even more entertaining, with their Viking Clap chant.
