The World Cup is underway, and I couldn’t be happier! Ever since summer 2002, when I first got caught up in World Cup fever, I have looked forward to this tournament with awe and passion. It’s a little hard to get in the true spirit when in the U.S. we as a nation do not follow professional soccer as closely as we do our other sports — hockey, baseball, basketball and football. I was living in Brussels in 2002 when the World Cup took place in South Korea. This was the first time I found a sporting event that creates such strong comraderie, passion and fun. Even the Olympics don’t ignite people in this way. Luckily, many people in New York City do follow soccer and the World Cup, so once inside any bar, I always find a fun crowd to join and cheer on the teams. As much as I enjoy watching the games, I really enjoy the way the tournament brings people of all nations and cultures together on one field. While watching the games, I always receive messages from friends all over the world who are also watching, everywhere from the United Kingdom and Dubai to Korea. Here’s a tip for those of you traveling on business during the World Cup but not following the event: Check when the matches are being shown in the country you are visiting and make sure you do not need to see a key client when his/her country is playing. This may sound ridiculous to some, but most likely you will not be able to schedule that meeting, or you will find yourself competing with a TV or a radio play-by-play. Save the meeting time for a different hour and try to enjoy the match yourself. It may score you some business of your own! — Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher