Bon Voyage

Do you want to know what everyone should do as his or her 91st birthday approaches? 

That's right. Go on a two-week cruise in the Mediterranean. 

That's what FatherBlog is doing. He flies out of Newark to Nice tonight and then gets on a ship for his vacation. Why not, right? For the record, TigerBlog was not invited. 

The first stop is Saint-Tropez, which just happens to be one of FatherBlog's four favorite places in the world (it's actually No. 1 on his fab four). The other three? Istanbul, Rio and South Africa. 

FB grew up in Brooklyn, graduated from Boys' High, briefly attended Hunter College and then spent two years in the Army. It was during his storied military career — he'll tell you he rose from the rank of private all the way to private — that he developed his love of traveling, something that has never waned. 

As such, despite all of the "you're almost 91; are you sure you can handle such a cruise" questions he was asked, he still has been determined to do this. If TigerBlog had to guess, he'd say the odds are greater that his father has another big trip in the future than they are that this will be his last one. 

If you're looking for FB's secret to such longevity, it's something along the lines of this: Eat whatever you want. Don't exercise a lot. Don't go to doctor's offices. 

So anyway, bon voyage, FatherBlog. Have fun. Make good decisions. That's what TigerBlog would say to his kids, so he might as well tell his dad that too. 

It dawns on TB that his father, for all his world travels, has seen very little of the United States, or Canada for that matter. It's pretty much all been international, covering Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa. To his memory, TB doesn't think his father has been to Antarctica, so six continents isn't a bad record. 

TB now shifts the focus to North America, where the current World Cup has entered the 32-team knockout round. It began with one game yesterday and is now down to 31 teams, after Canada's goal in stoppage time meant a 1-0 win over South Africa and a spot in the final 16. 

CANADA TAKES THE LEAD IN STOPPAGE TIME 🇨🇦

Stephen Eustáquio is the hero! pic.twitter.com/ZaSCikmLiB

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 28, 2026

Canada, of course, is coached by Princeton alum Jesse Marsch. His career trajectory has seen coach successfully on this continent and in Europe, including in the English Premier League, Major League Soccer and the Austrian Bundesliga (where he led his team to a spot in the Champions League). 

What's going on now is all new for Marsch, and for Canada. Prior to this World Cup, the Canadians had never won a World Cup game, let alone reached the knockout stage. Before 2026, Canada had qualified for two World Cups, going 0-6 in Group Stage games and scoring only a single goal. 

This time, Marsch led Canada to a 1-1-1 record in the Group Stage, which put Canada into the knockout stage. Yesterday's game was the first the team played outside of Canada, in Los Angeles to be exact. It was also the only knockout round game played to date, leaving Canada as the first team to advance. 

Here is part of what Marsch had to say aftewards: 

"Our goal in tournament -- other than inspiring our nation -- was to make a run to face one of the giants of the soccer world. And given Morocco's recent run, they are a giant. And given the Dutch's dominance over the decades, they are a giant too. I feel like [this next game] is a free hit and we are going to go out and give it our best shot."

Next up for Canada will be the winner of the game between the Netherlands and Morocco, which will be played tonight at 9 Eastern in California as well. The team that advances tonight will face Canada Saturday in Houston. 

Saturday is the Fourth of July, which might seem like an interesting day to focus on Canada. But hey, Princeton alums are Princeton alums. And Marsch is an American, from Wisconsin. He also joins his college coach at Princeton, Bob Bradley, as Tiger alums who have coached a team into the final 16.