The boys in green feel that you are gate-crashing their party, but the host is an Englishman with an ensemble who claim to be Irish, through three generations removed.

A month long competition played out in venues across the United States allows you to fly into one place, and leave from another. This is called an open-jaw ticket, and gives you the chance to see a lot more of the land.

The fans who travel to America for the World Cup have to cover a great distance, at least once in the opening qualifying group. Those who have the money can fly, although they see little else of the country, while the more adventurous trickle around on Amtrak and Greyhound. A real fan of football wishes to be there for the whole month.

With a 30 day pass, it is tempting to roam around the country covering at least one game in all the nine cities.

You plan, and re-plan it all, and see that it is indeed a possibility.