Never say never when it comes to Oling, World Cup

He finally missed one, the 2002 tournament co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, due to an injury suffered during adult league play, but it was back to Germany in 2006. He continued his streak until missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

And everyone of those trips had been an adventure.

With the United States hosting the 2026 World Cup, along with Mexico and Canada, seemed like a n0-brainer for Oling to attend games. So I decided to check in with him to see how he’s enjoying the 2026 World Cup.

Instead, he is in Ituiutaba, in the western part of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil visiting family. Oling has a home in Brazil and splits time between there and his home in San Mateo.

“Basically, [the tournament] is down the street and I’m going to Tijuana,” Oling said. “I did surprise some people (when I didn’t go).”

When I connected with Oling Wednesday afternoon, he was watching Brazil-Scotland at a watch party.

“I’m among some good people here. The vibe is good,” Oling said.

For many people, the World Cup is a bucket-list item. So is going to England to watch the EPL. Oling does both — regularly. Just this past winter holiday season, he watched three EPL games in one day.

And that is the biggest difference in watching soccer at an international level. Everything is so close in Europe, that fans could, conceivably, watch a game in London in the morning and then hit up a game in Paris that same evening.

It’s a six-hour car trip, but doable.

In the United States, Mexico and Canada, the distances between host cities are so great, that a general soccer fan would have to decide which city they want to set up base camp and then you just stay there. I guess a fan could have watched Monday’s Jordan-Algeria match at Levi’s Stadium and then headed to Seattle for Wednesday’s Bosnia-Herzegonvina-Qatar match. But that’s a 90-minute plane ride — or a 14-hour car ride.

But for Oling, it’s all about the sport, not the spectacle. That’s why he was stoked to have a second-division Brazilian team in town, which is currently in first place. So last Saturday, he took in a live game and then came home to watch World Cup games.

To Oling, that’s as good as it gets.

But there are still about three weeks left in the 2026 World Cup, so there is still time for Oling to change his mind. Which he has done before. I talked to him ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany and he wasn’t planning on going. A couple days later, I got a call from Oling.

“Guess where am?” He asked.

“I have no idea,” I replied.

“I’m walking through JFK (Airport in New York), walking to my connecting flight.”

Turns out, he was heading to Germany.

So don’t be surprised if Oling grabs an airline ticket and finds himself in a stadium in the United States, taking in a 2026 World Cup game.

“You never know,” Oling said. “I might show up for the last matches.”

And if he doesn’t make it a 2026 game?

“Maybe I’ll make up for it by going to Spain,” Oling said.

That would be for the 2030 World Cup, when Spain, Portugal and Morrocco hosts.

Nathan Mollat has been covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal since 2001. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.