Meet the bloggers
Washington, D.C.
Matt is a sports reporter and web producer/editor for The Washington Post.
"For the last two and a half years I've been on countless sidelines and in numerous press boxes covering high school sports around the area. And as much as I enjoy those experiences, I'm excited to leave my notepad behind for a couple weeks to take in word-class football as a fan."
Washington, D.C.
Tim is a designer for The Washington Post. He's battling some back problems -- talk about bad timing -- but is making the journey for the love of the game.
"It's funny; I have friends who fall into two camps answering that question. Not surprisingly, my travel partners (and a few others) urge me to go no matter what. How could I not? But then a large group think I'm crazy for even considering it. There's little middle ground. Except for me, as that's where I'm stuck: as one friend puts it, the decision is heart vs. mind vs. body."
Reston, Va.
Josh is an IT consultant by day and a soccer fan at all times.
"When asked what a World Cup is like, I tell them it's like the atmosphere on Super Bowl Sunday but on steroids...every day. I'll be in South Africa for about two weeks catching all three USA opening round games and a few others"
Columbus, Ohio
Jeff works in marketing and will be traveling with a group of his friends to South Africa
"Despite the quizzical looks from friends on the outside of the soccer world, I am very excited to be making my first trek to the World Cup. During each of the previous two World Cups timing and/or funding kept me watching State-side. I finally have the opportunity to attend and I am thrilled to do so."
Boston, Mass.
Prairie Rose is a painter and is making the journey to South Africa because she has "no common sense whatsoever."
"In 2002, my husband (then boyfriend) and I were both out of work and had nothing better to do than turn on Univision at 2:00am and see what it was our Brazilian neighbors were going on about. Four years later, I woke up on the Sam's Army New England banner on the floor of the Frankfurt airport, having missed the last train out after the US-Czech Republic game. Now it's four years after that, and I'm shoveling red, white, and blue crap from the dollar store into a suitcase to haul to Johannesburg."
Denver, Colo.
Rick is a marketing consultant He caught the soccer bug in 1990.
I’m traveling to my second World Cup, and have been counting down the days, hours, and minutes until we leave since sometime around early January (5 days, 20 hours, and 30ish minutes).
Arlington, Va.
Chris is an unemployed, soon-to-be graduate student who is living the dream. "I was in Cape Town in 2004 when FIFA announced that South Africa had won the rights to the World Cup. So I will be coming around full circle with my two weeks in South Africa. In Jozy we trust."
Washington, D.C.
These two were soccer fiends on their own, but they now traverse the globe together in the name of soccer.
"Beyond the excitement of the tournament and watching our favorite teams play, what we also enjoy are the unexpected events like bewilderedly walking under an overpass, careful to not slip on the hundreds of banana peels, sitting at an outdoor café watching fans from Ecuador and Poland yell cheerful chants back and forth before joining in an impromptu wave, or running into a mariachi band singing in a quaint German town."
Washington, D.C.
Paul is an attorney living in D.C. He is taking his family to this World Cup (his second).
"The whole family is going, although Nancy insists she is not going to any games (except US v England). All of us are pumped."
David lives in D.C. He will be painting his face for every U.S. game.
"Note to self: be sure to pack the face paint in checked luggage, you don’t want TSA confiscating it."
Arlington, Va.
Alex and David are brothers. They packed a Paula Abdul T-Shirt, a bunch of U.S.A. gear ... and not much else.
Alex: "I should note that I supremely dislike pompous windbags who prattle on about their innermost thoughts. Therefore it is my goal to offer unique insights and photos for those who cannot attend and steer clear of the drivel. Wish me luck ..."
David: "Seeking to conserve space, avoid checking bags, and maximize my display of red, white, and blue, I have packed only the essentials."
Woodbridge, Va.
Brett is the rare lucky soul who will be in South Africa on work.
" My love has never faded, if anything my relationship with football has turned into a common law marriage over the years."
