A devoted England fan who has attended every home qualifier and friendly for 17 years and every away match for 12 years has shared his honest verdict on the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Ian Odgers, 58, who has tattooed passport stamps from his travels, flew to the US despite a calf injury that nearly derailed his plans. He has already noticed a key difference: Americans are not as excited about the tournament.
Americans Focused on Other Sports
Odgers, from Dereham, Norfolk, attended England's pre-tournament friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica in South Florida. During his time in New Orleans, he found locals more interested in the NHL Stanley Cup and NBA finals. "The USA haven't bought into it. It's such a big place with so much going on - you were never going to get everyone behind it," he said. "The ones I met are more fussed about hockey and basketball. I'm sure it'll grow as the tournament progresses, especially if the USA gets far. But they are obsessed with hockey and basketball. I'm already sick of them calling it soccer - not sure I can handle six weeks of it."
Comparison to Qatar
Odgers contrasted the atmosphere with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar: "Qatar definitely felt more like a World Cup, it was a lot more full." Despite this, he remains confident England will succeed, saying, "I feel like I always do – it's definitely coming home."
Lifelong Dedication
Odgers' passion began at age 12 when he attended his first match. He estimates he has visited around 30 countries and spent about £90,000 following the team. He started documenting his travels with tattoos seven years ago. "I question myself so many times why I do it but ultimately it's a passion, a belief, a pride that drives us," he said.
Memorable Moments
His fondest memories include wins over Germany, such as a 2-3 victory in Berlin in 2016 and a 2-0 home win in 2021, as well as England's penalty shootout win against Colombia in the 2018 World Cup. He recalled a coincidence during the 2018 World Cup in Russia when a schoolmate sat behind him at the England vs. Panama match, and in Qatar, he met a fellow fan from Dereham.
Odgers plans to return to the US for England's second group match, the round of 16, and potentially the semi-final and final. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to his hobby, calling it "the best hobby in the world."
