World Cup 2026

Braintree, Boston, June 28

Things have changed in the last days, on many levels. The weather has changed. Like in Europe a heatwave has started to build up, and it will get worse next week, rising up to high 30’s and supposedly occasionally low 40’s. We have to see what that means for our riding, adjustments will be necessary.

My riding companion has changed. Tino had to return back to Germany, spending the last day in New York, and I think he genuinely enjoyed his time. It was definitely event packed. In a bit less than 2 weeks he travelled nearly 3.000 km on a bike in a stunning country, saw 4 World Cup games and some pretty spectacular stadiums and saw NYC for the first time. His bike has been handed over in a flying change to Katsu, my Japanese mate from Momotaro fame, in Boston, where we arrived 2 days ago, seeing Hong, our rental guy, and we used the chance for a quick pit stop.

Travel has changed. With the return to the Boston area we have had some relaxed day trips, checking some of the most picturesque, wealthy, petite villages in the US, mainly along the coast around Boston. Stumbled into a gay pride parade in Salem and joined in. Nice rolling days…

The way how I spent my time has changed, I have turned into a temporary travel agency. Euibin, a friend from New York is coming to see us and needed a ticket, Katsu, of course, and Peter from Sweden with his son are flying in, missed their flights, had to be rebooked, needed tickets for the games. Plus, special guests are arriving – hopefully – for Philly. Busy days…

Most of all: the mood has changed. The game in New Jersey at the monstrously impressive Met Life Stadium showed the limitations of the German team brutally clear, after we tended to ignore it during the first 2 games. This simply isn’t a golden generation for German football, and on top too many players are far from their best. Musiala, Pavlovic, Wirtz, the list is long…Germany has dropped off the list of everyone’s teams to watch list, and I understand that…The game was sobering, also amongst the German fans here…

Reached one of those pretty faceless but well run Hotel structures near the stadium of Boston, Euibin and the Swedes will arrive later, and tomorrow will see 2 games that will decide how – and if -the World Cup will go on for me and Katsu. Japan takes on Brazil, and we will have another chance to change the spirits.