World Cup Road Trip

The Aussie fans refuse to leave the stadium! 

Tony chats with the families of Irankunda as Behich ahead of the Australia v Paraguay match. Cam joins the fan march to the Bay Area Stadium, where the build up to the match as a good as it gets.

The atmosphere throughout the match was electric. And the Aussies did enough!!

We're going to Dallas!! If we ever leave the stadium...

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The carnival reaches fever pitch. Firebrand preachers, salty chants, costumes, smoke bombs, colour. The anticipation was was electric.

The result didn't go Australia's way, but the energy was incredible.

Daniel Garb joins Tony post-match for a detailed breakdown of the tactics and execution of the socceroos game plan. What worked, what didn't, what should we expect in the final group match.

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A last-minute golden ticket for the USA match comes through, courtesy of Football Australia. Memories of the 2006 cannonball run for the round-of-16 tickets in Stuttgart.

Cam and Tony reunite in downtown Seattle to watch Canada destroy Qatar, and Mexico sneak home against South Korea.

We meet two mexican civil engineers who helped build the wall, and Jamie the American tips the Aussies for an upset.

Bring on tomorrow!!!

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Tony and Polly cross into the United States and anticipation for the USA v Australia match builds.

Cam and his little hang take a day off football to climb a mountain, and reflect on the places the World Cup can take you.

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Tony's nephews dig their teeth into the changes on the all-time World Cup goal scorers leaderboard, and celebrate the Messi hat-trick with a jubilant Argentinian at the Whistler mountain bike park.

Cam visits the legislative assembly steps to learn from pantomime owls, and learns about urinal ettiquette.

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Cam has an engrossing chat with two Iranian nationals watching the thrilling Iran V New Zealand match. Mohsen and Hirad are both passionate and articulate fans of Iranian football. This was Cam's favourite conversation of the trip so far. Go well boys!

Tony and Polly share an awkward moment with the Irankundas on the bus to Whistler.

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Australia win a remarkable match against Türkiye, and the celebrations go right off! We chat to fans inside the stadium and out. Tony sets up a clandestine watch-party for the Brazilian housekeeper in his hotel, smashes his binoculars, and speaks to Simon Hill about Australia's chances.

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The day before Game Day! From Dan’s first World Cup to Bruno’s eighth, Tony and Cam find some World Cup addicts. We delight in Turkiye’s travelling fans singing in the street, and Socceroos fans countering with a song about Brent Soutar’s massive head.

From Van City Fan Fest we take in host nation Canada v Bosnia, and our Group D adversaries USA v Paraguay. We chat to Brian, Sonja, Sergey, Benji, Ahmet, Joseph and Darcy. We mainly get excited about Australia’s first match tomorrow!

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The World Cup 2026 has kicked off! Mexico and South Korea have won their opening matches, and Cam and Tony are in Vancouver to soak up the atmosphere and bring the World Cup Road Trip to your earballs.

Francis Leach is not in North America, but has generously allowed Tony to take his baby on the road with Cam.

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It's  with a series of politically sensitive interviews about the current state of Russia and how it's ruled.proshchay

In one case we've had to alter voices to protect identities, conducted the interviews in London and held off until things had quietened down.

An illuminating final episode of the World Cup Road Trip and an insight into the country few expected to hold it.

Articles

TIME: Who is Bill Browder?

ABC: World Cup dream is 'sportswashing' Russia's appalling record

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Get in touch!

Francis Leach - Facebook / Twitter / Website

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*** Get Tony's book about Australia at the FIFA World Cup in Germany - Australia United.

Sydney Morning Herald"Part diary, part memoir, he captures the specialness of being there."

Documentary Australia:Puskás and the South Melbourne Hellas More informationa about the documentary Tony Wilson is making - 

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World Cup Road Trip is produced by Nearly.

Artwork by Studio Baker

Music by George Parker-Brien

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