Franco Catalano

In Argentina, soccer is a religion.

When the match plays, no one really speaks aside from the broadcaster, as mass has just begun.

It doesn't understand logic, and we are very superstitious about it.

We sit in the same spot in the couch, wearing the same clothes we used last time the national team won, as lucky charms, just so we don't jinx it.

But not me.

Don't get me wrong, I love the sport, but I hate the feeling of excitement that comes with it, especially during the World Cup, where...

For one month, my dear hometown of Buenos Aires falls victim to the opium of the masses that is soccer.

But this World Cup 2022, it's different for me because it's the first time I will not watch it in Buenos Aires, but actually in the city of Chicago.

And I cannot be happier because I will not be victim of the excitement because let's be honest, you don't give a fudge about soccer.

So the first match of Argentina on the group stage is against Saudi Arabia on November 22, 2022.

Surprisingly, Argentina loses that match.

And I get to know this in the newspaper because I wasn't sleeping while the match was going on.

Because, I mean, it was 5 a.m.

in the morning.

What I am supposed to say to my boss if I watch the match and they go to work looking like that, like, oh, sorry, I look like crap.

I got the fever, the workout fever, right?

I mean, I'm really glad that I'm not in Argentina right now because a loss like this makes everybody go moody.

Or crazy.

Or crazy moody.

Case in point, I talk to a friend and I tell him I didn't watch the match.