A Buzz Around the World...

February 20th came and went for most Americans, a day like any other. But something extraordinary happened on that Friday, nearly two weeks ago. Something awe-inspiring stirred the world over. Something caused people to dream the impossible, to hope for change. No, it was not something Barack Obama said. It wasn’t a cease fire in the Middle East. Tibet was not freed; the junta in Myanmar was not deposed. It was much, much more important than that. Bill Shankly would surely agree. February 20th, 2009: tickets for FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa went on sale.

Africa’s first chance to host a tournament, this could be one of the most memorable yet, in all of the timeless tournaments of years gone by. Africa, a continent depicted by the media as a barren wasteland full of poverty and disease, will finally have the opportunity to show the world over its true image. The tournament offers an opportunity to change global perceptions the world over. And though the tournament is hosted by South Africa, the rest of the continent has been celebrating since May 15, 2004 when FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced that Africa would host its first tournament.

The buzz will only increase over the next 463 days until it reaches euphoria, the month-long party, the dancing in the streets. This condition is better known as World Cup fever. And why not be excited? Paraguay is top of the table ahead of Brazil and Argentina in the South American Qualifiers, with Chile also close to making a return to the tournament for the first time since 1998. In Europe, Slovakia tops group 3 and France may fail to qualify in a group that contains Lithuania and the Faroe Islands. In the Asian qualifiers, North Korea hopes to qualify for the first time since 1966, just a point behind their beloved neighbors South Korea. And of course, Africa. The qualifiers are not yet underway, but the region that always brings a surprise will surely not disappoint as all nations hope to compete in their continent’s first tournament. So there may be some new teams competing, but let’s just hope that Sweden can turn things around and qualify.