Online Diary: A Canadian in Germany

Kris Fernandes is a writer and advertising director for Canada's premier soccer magazine, InsideSOCCER. He has worked within the Canadian soccer community for five years in various areas including the community affairs coordinator position of the Toronto Lynx Soccer Club and founded a free soccer program for underprivileged youth in Toronto.

June 2: So here we are, exactly one week away from the greatest sporting spectacle on earth, the World Cup of Soccer. I have been waiting for this tournament for four years now. I couldn't attend the last tournament in 2002 as I was still taking exams in high school. But alas my time has finally come to experience this childhood dream. To be live at the World Cup must truly be a once in a lifetime experience that should not be missed by any sports fan.

My job for CBC Sports Online during this event is quite simply to show Canadians what the true passion and experience of the World Cup is all about. I will be in Germany from start to finish, attending some of the hottest games around while interacting with all the fans and engaging in German culture. There are a hundreds of festivities taking place throughout Germany with millions of crazy fans from every corner of the globe dressed up in the most unique and colourful costumes you can imagine. You will find me on here 4-5 times a week sharing all of my adventures with you.

Planning a trip to the World Cup is a very complicated process that takes months to plan out. You have the typical vacation stuff to figure out: flight, housing, and transportation among others. However, the first and most important thing that I had to worry about was getting tickets. You thought getting Leaf tickets was hard? You have no clue. There were five different sales phases in which fans could attempt to gain tickets; two by application lottery three by first come first serve.

But fans had to compete with super computers from ticket scalping companies and many, including myself, had to apply with dozens of different family member IDs. Over the year-long process I somehow managed to gain a few tickets. Of course even if I were not allocated any tickets I would've still flown over to try and buy them at outrageous prices.

So, leading up to opening night on Friday June 9, I will share with you the rest of my outside the box plans that I conjured up and will try to infect you with the same fever for the beautiful game that I have. In the meantime go by a flag, get some face paint and get ready to be fully immersed in the phenomenon that is the World Cup.

^ Back to top