Meet the Soccer Superfan Driving a Giant Soccer Ball-Painted VW Bug on a 2026 World Cup Road Trip

Kennedy, a 55-year-old Fort Myers resident, is embarking on a cross-country World Cup road trip in a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle painted to resemble a giant soccer ball. The car, his first owned vehicle, was painted before the 1994 World Cup as a promotion for his soccer store, and he later secured sponsorship from Adidas, JVC, and Snickers after pitching the idea to sponsors. His plan began with the opening ceremonies in Chicago and concludes with the finals in Los Angeles, with detours to Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, and the Pacific Ocean when possible. He has since attended nine World Cups across multiple continents, often with family, and this year starts by picking up a buddy in Jacksonville and driving Route 10 to Los Angeles.