This weekend was peak Aussie sport energy and I was all in. Cricket at the Gabba. A sweaty 10k run. And then casually bumping into Mackenzie Arnold at South Bank before 7am. Yes, I fan-girled. No, I don’t regret it.

But the real fever kicking in right now is World Cup fever. The 2026 draw dropped and suddenly my calendar, my budget and my sense of logic are all in a cage match. I’ve already blocked out the Socceroos match days because let’s be real: nothing meaningful gets done in this country when the World Cup is on. I learned that the hard way in 2006 when I backpacked through Germany, scored golden-ticket access to the Aussie supporters, and ended up having one of the best months of my life sleeping in a makeshift campsite run by locals who fed us bratwurst and beer like it was oxygen.

This episode is a mix of stories, nostalgia and a warning: you need to plan your life around this World Cup now, not later. These fixtures are prime time for a reason.

If I can snag a ticket, I’m flying over for at least one match. No excuses. Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines.

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StephCast Th 12-18-25