The report says El Manawy, a Brussels-based actor and filmmaker, has shipped his 1982 BMW to Baltimore and booked a one-way flight for next summer’s tournament.
That route alone captures what makes a North American World Cup different. Distances are huge. Host cities are spread wide. Supporters will not just follow matches; they will cross landscapes.
What gives this story its edge is the memory of 2022. The update says El Manawy previously drove the same car - known as “The Beast” - from Brussels toward Doha, only for Belgium to be eliminated before he arrived. He missed their tournament entirely.
That failure matters. It turns this latest trip into more than a stunt. It is also a second attempt, and football is full of those: teams chasing redemption, players rebuilding reputations, supporters trying again after a journey goes wrong.
For Belgium, the backdrop is important too. The so-called golden generation has faded, and every major tournament now feels like part of a reset. A travelling fan story fits neatly with that mood: hopeful, uncertain, still chasing one more run.
If the reports prove accurate, El Manawy’s drive could become one of the more memorable side stories of the tournament. The next thing to watch is simple: whether Belgium give him enough matches to keep the engine running.