The World Cup fever has hit Miami, with fans from England and Norway making a dash to join the spring break festivities. It's a unique blend of football and spring break, with fans embracing the opportunity to travel and experience new cultures. The Norwegian fans, in particular, have gained celebrity status in footballing circles, thanks to their Viking row and energetic presence in each host city. They continued to lap up the love in South Beach, Miami, with supporters holding two rallies on the eve of the game. Many onlookers jostled to get the best view of the hijinks, with some perched from balconies up above, in a sea of red, horns, and selfie sticks. Any Norwegian fan with a half-decent get-up (Viking horns and flag) was swamped by others wanting a photo, like they were a character dressed up in Times Square. Some of the Norwegians have been in the US for the long haul, but many others made a last-minute dash, eager to experience it for themselves. One fan, Allr, who only arrived last night, said, "It's so special and it's so cute to have all the Norwegians just come together. It's really beautiful to see everyone here." Her friend, Mia, said, "It's really weird because I have never experienced such a thing like this [with] people going on the streets asking to interview us and take pictures and stuff. But it's really fun and it's really cool and I almost feel like a celebrity." Another fan shared stories of doing shoeys with Australians in Dallas, and said he had to sell his apartment to afford the trip. He insisted it has been worth it so far, although he should be checked on after tomorrow's game pending the result. And do not mistake the Norwegian as one-trick ponies. They have a vast repertoire, and as the hot, sticky, Miami day turned into a still, sweltering evening, they remained in the many restaurants and bars lining the closed-off Ocean Drive, regaling each other — and interested passers-by — with their best. The English fans have their own loyal band of supporters who have been here for the ride, and late arrivals — like Harry from Derbyshire. Harry, like many of his countrymen and women, was struggling in the searing heat. "A bit hot for me, I'm not going to lie. My ginger hair is suffering a little bit. But we found some factor 70 sun cream, so we're doing alright," he said. There were English pool parties and many renditions of Wonderwall through the city's various nightclubs. As much as both sets of fans have made the most of the pre-game, none of it will compare to what they will be feeling tomorrow if their team makes it through to the semis. And another couple of plane loads of late arrivals could very well still come and join the party.
