World Cup fever is sweeping the globe; everyone seems to be talking about it, buying the flags or T-shirts of their favorite teams and engaging in word wars with friends about who’s who.

Germany will be hosting the 2006 World Cup and the country has enforced strict security measures over stadiums and other important portal to ensure fans and teams can have a safe environment to enjoy their favorite game, and there will be a lot of them. Compare that to this: one-in-eight of all Britons are planning to book a holiday to “escape” the fever that’s rushing everyone around, women mostly will want to fled homes infested with men hungry for football.

Then, of course, there are the Samba kings of Brazil. Roads, buildings, shop windows, and even beaches have all been decked out in the national colors that will set pulses racing in stadiums across Germany starting from Friday.

Also the Chinese are thinking of the cash they can reap out of this: Information from China Central Television says a leading Chinese electronic enterprise has even spent tens of millions of yuan for a three-minute commercial during match breaks. Businesses are not only trying to catch soccer fans’ attention, but more importantly, get into their pockets. Because of the enthusiasm, or some would say, hysteria for the event, no one is ever rational when it comes to buying a World Cup T-shirt or a mascot.

In the Arab world, many will not get to watch this event they’ve been anticipating impatiently for the past four years because giant media portal ART has bought the exclusive broadcast rights. But not to despair, when there is a will there is a way.

In Jordan, his majesty King Abdullah II donated 23 giant screens to play the games live in remote and less privileged cities in the country. Café’s and restaurants purchased similar screens and started listing their special services to attract football aficionados. The Egyptians did not miss out on this one as the National Sports Council allocated 50,000 LE to purchase and distribute screens in various squares in Egyptian municipalities.

In Lebanon, however, things might be just a tad easier for football fans. Negotiations between the major Lebanese cable companies and ART wrapped up recently under governmental support and landed the average Lebanese a deal to watch all games live for just 10 USD a month – the amount already paid for cable subscription.

Most Tunisians will make sure they won’t miss out on any of their national team’s games, and many have saved up enough to travel to Germany to support their team up close and personal. Some Tunisian singers have gone so far as to record songs dedicated to boosting the morale of the “Carthage Eagles”.

Crazy traffic characterized the past few days wherever a satellite-specialty shop is located – Libyans have gone mad trying to get the magical ART card that has doubled in value. In Syria I hear reports of relentless attempts to “hack the system” and gain access for free to watch the games live, but from what I hear, those attempts have not as yet proved successful. Money talks, you know.

This is a time of celebration, a time when you, the Ghanaian, the Japanese, and I ride the same wave.

I just got T-shirt no.5 of Azzurri’s captain Fabio Cannavaro and I am wearing it! It’s so pretty (Like signore Cannavaro himself) and I just love it. I also support Nihon (Japan), Ganbatte Kudasai!