An England superfan tattooed with passport stamps from attending away games has claimed the Yanks haven’t bought into the World Cup – with the states more fussed with hockey and basketball.
Ian Odgers has not missed a national home qualifier or friendly in 17 years and has not missed an away qualifier or friendly for 12 years.
The 58-year-old, who loves travelling, had meticulously planned an itinerary to follow England’s progress at next month’s World Cup finals.
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However, it seems like the host nation couldn’t care less about the globes largest sporting event.
“The USA haven’t bought into it,” Ian, from Dereham, Norfolk, told What’s The Jam.
“It’s such a big place with so much going on – you were never going to get everyone behind it.
“The ones I met are more fussed about hockey and basketball.”
Ian was in a race against time to make it to the States for England’s friendlies and the start of the World Cup after a shocking shuttlecock related injury.
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The superfan had ruptured his calf whilst playing badminton in the build up to the finals.
He said: “I thought I had snapped something originally and ended up in casualty for four hours and had four X-rays.
“I’m lucky I have been able to work from home.
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“But had to cancel a weekend away in my campervan.”
The production planner, who has also set up an aid charity for refugees, added: “I couldn’t play Badminton now if I tried.
“I have run 212 marathons, but thankfully those days are behind me.
“The medics advise me to elevate, use lots of ice, and rest.
“I’m gutted.
“Especially with the weather we’ve had.”
Thankfully, Ian managed to attend both of England’s pre-tournament games against New Zealand on 6 June and Costa Rica on 10 June in South Florida.
During his initial trip to the States, he spent a lot of time down in New Orleans where he interacted with a number of Yanks.
To his surprise, they weren’t too fussed about the World Cup with the NHL Stanley Cup final and NBA finals gripping the majority of the host nation.
Ian said: “I’m sure it’ll grow as the tournament progresses, especially if the USA gets far.
“But they are obsessed with hockey and basketball.
“I’m already sick of them calling it soccer – not sure I can handle six weeks of it.
“Qatar definitely felt more like a World Cup, it was a lot more full.”
After flying back from the States, Ian will return to the USA for England’s second group game, their last 16 encounter and then both the semi-final and final, should England make it.
And he was optimistic they would.
He said: “I feel like I always do – it’s definitely coming home.”
His passion for England was ignited when he attended his first game at the age of 12, before making it his life’s ambition to follow the side.
He estimated he had travelled to around 30 countries as a supporter, spending in the region of £90,000.
He started documenting his football trips with a series of tattoos about seven years ago.
He said he keeps going because it is the best hobby in the world.
“I question myself so many times why I do it but ultimately it’s a passion, a belief, a pride that drives us,” he said.
“The Qatar World Cup was the furthest I’ve travelled to see England.
“It was a 9,000-mile round trip.
“And during the Russia World Cup one train journey was 7.5 hours each way.”
He added there had been some odd occurrences too.
He said: “I went to the England versus Panama game in Russia.
“And, bizarrely, the man who sat directly behind me I had gone to school with.
“And waiting for a bus to the first England game in Qatar I noticed a fan with a Norwich flag.
“I told him I was from Dereham, in Norfolk, and it turned out he was too.”
He said his best memories involved victories over old rivals Germany, including a 2-3 victory in Berlin 2016 and a 2-0 home win in 2021.
Another highlight was when England beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties during the 2018 World Cup.
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