Jonathan Stone with his kids, Jameson, 3, and Parker, 6, watching the World Cup.
Courtesy of Jonathan Stone
This story is based on an interview with Jonathan Stone, 44, of New Canaan, Connecticut, who works in event marketing. It has been edited for length and clarity.My kids and I have been looking forward to the 2026 World Cup for months.Parker, 6, and her 3.5-year-old brother, Jameson, inherited my love of soccer and, like me, are rooting for England this summer.I'm American, but got hooked on European football at college, where two of my best friends were from the UK.One supported Newcastle United, and it became my English Premier League side. The kids started wearing the kit as soon as they were born because everyone sent us themed onesies.The pub was family-friendlyI couldn't wait to buy them those little England shirts and shorts for this year's competition.They proudly wore them for the last two England matches, particularly when I took them to a pub in Norwalk, Connecticut, to cheer the team.
It was a family-friendly place that had World Cup soccer players' coloring sheets to keep the kids happy if their attention wandered. We also brought some Lego bricks for them to build with.I ordered their favorite Shirley Temples and chicken tenders with fries, and they got really into the game.
