It was the year 2001. The air in my small hometown in Buenos Aires crackled with anticipation. Argentina was playing Ecuador in a crucial World Cup qualifier. My grandfather and I huddled around our crackling radio, straining to hear the commentary over the static. Every shout, every near miss, every goal felt like an event broadcast across the universe. The final whistle blew; a disappointing draw. We had to wait for the morning newspaper to see the full league table, a stark contrast to the instant, data-rich experience we enjoy today. This evolution in how we follow the beautiful game, particularly in a football-obsessed region like South America, is a testament to technological advancement, and it profoundly impacts how we compare its World Cup journey to other confederations.
