A journey of a thousand miles to the World Cup
They are Vicente Conculini, 29, Miguel Silio, 56, and Yomandu Martínez, 49. From their hometown of Gualeguaychú, near the Uruguayan border, the three set off on August 16, 2025. Their baggage included not only summer and winter clothing, bicycles, and minimalist belongings, but also an unwavering belief in Argentina, Lionel Messi, and the dream of defending their World Cup title.
That crazy idea started with Miguel Silio, who cycled to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. For him, the World Cup is more than just a destination. It's a reason to slow down, travel further, and experience football with all your body.
Their journey was far from romantic, as depicted in social media photos. In Bolivia, the altitude exhausted them. In western Paraguay, the group went 24 hours without drinking water. In Colombia, locals advised them to stay overnight after a bomb-laden truck exploded just 20 kilometers from where they had eaten.
There were times when Conculini wondered, "What are we doing here?" But they kept going. Because ahead lay America, the World Cup, the blue and white jersey, and possibly Messi's last World Cup.
After eight and a half months of traveling, on May 1st, they arrived in Laredo, Texas. Then, the group visited San Antonio, where Argentinian basketball legend Manu Ginobili greeted them at an NBA game. On June 3rd, they traveled to Kansas City, where the Argentinian team was based.
What's remarkable is that initially, all three couldn't buy tickets to watch Argentina play through the FIFA system. But their story touched many hearts. At the Kansas City Unity Cup, they were honored and given tickets to watch Argentina's opening match against Algeria on June 16th.
For Conculini, the moment of arrival wasn't the end, but proof that they had accomplished something seemingly impossible. "Arriving is the best part of the journey, not because the trip is over, but because we've truly completed it," he said.
The World Cup always has goals, records, and trophies. But sometimes, the soul of the tournament lies in stories outside the pitch. Those three Argentinian fans didn't play a single minute, didn't score a goal, and didn't lift the trophy. But they reminded the world that football can make people overcome mountains, cross forests, and brave fear and fatigue just to stand in the stands and sing for their favorite team.
For them, Messi was the destination, but the 17,000 km journey was the real victory.
Source: https://danviet.vn/dap-xe-17000-km-de-theo-chan-messi-d1434818.html
