From a health scare to 144 countries: How the 2022 World Cup inspired a global soccer journey
Before the World Cup came to North America, one American went looking for soccer everywhere else.
Over three-plus years and 11 long-term adventures, San Diego resident Joe Connor traveled the planet seeking to watch organized soccer in every country that he figured would end up qualifying for the World Cup . He fell just one short. (It’s not hard to figure out which one.
) His mission never would have happened, though, if not for a blood clot. The 54-year-old has attended hundreds of events featuring dozens of different sports across six continents. He has seen baseball and basketball, horse racing and cricket, golf and Gaelic football, even ice fishing.
In 2018-19 alone, over 675 consecutive days, he criss-crossed the U. S. and Canada to attend a game, match, race, duel, meet or tournament.
He dubs himself, “The GOAT of Sports Travel. ” Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament Connor’s first love was baseball, followed by college football and basketball. Boyhood was also consumed by hockey, which he played in Connecticut and watched with his father, a Hartford Whalers season ticket holder for a dozen years.
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