So here goes folks – it’s that once every 4 years sensation! The World Cup is almost upon us but if you haven’t booked your ticket yet – there’s still time to travel to Brazil.

The tournament takes place between June 12th and July 13th and there are still tickets available for some of the games at the 12 different locations to be used throughout the country during that time (though these are, admittedly, mainly minor games).

Ready for the World Cup in Brazil

But when it comes to major world football tournament like this – it tends to be a “love it or hate it” type of thing. So being in Brazil for the World Cup may be your idea of travel heaven – or travel hell.

If you’re firmly in the latter camp, then of course it’s easy to avoid. But the World Cup fever will grip Brazil like no other country on earth – so if you’re very much in the “love it” camp, this may be the only opportunity you’ll get in this lifetime to be in the country that has kind of made this tournament its own more than any other nation on the planet.

Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil

The fact is that Brazil have won the World Cup five times – one more than their nearest rivals Italy with four wins. And with virtually every World Cup that comes around, wherever it may be held, Brazil are perennial favourites to win again. They’re also the only country ever to have contested every single World Cup finals tournament since it began in the 1930s.

So to be in Brazil this June-July will be an experience never to be forgotten for football fans from all around the world, regardless of whether they have tickets for the games. It’s really all about taking in the atmosphere.

Panini Sticker album for Brazil 2014

And the ability to soak in the Samba soccer atmosphere in a country that is so exciting and vibrant whenever you decide to visit will be an experience like no other. It’s also one that may not come around again anytime soon. The last time the World Cup was staged in Brazil was way back in 1950. In fact, Rio de Janeiro’s famous Maracana stadium was purpose-built for that competition; one in which, incidentally, Brazil lost out in the final match to near neighbours Uruguay – much to the heartbreak of the estimated 200,000 fans who crammed into the stadium to watch the game. This remains the largest crowd of all time for any single soccer match.

If Brazil make the final again in the refurbished Maracana this July 13th (a Sunday) then the expectation will reach fever pitch – and the ability to say “I was there” for lovers of the beautiful game may never come around again in this lifetime.

Of course, it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to get tickets for the final itself – but just being in Rio and perhaps on the Copa Cabana beach will be something to tell the grandchildren about. But only if you really love it all! If not – try and bury your head in the sand; metaphorically-speaking of course!

If you read this and want to help me find my stolen World Cup tickets please visit these sites and contact me:
DHL stolen World Cup tickets
FIFA stolen World Cup tickets