Beer on my shoes, 70,000 screaming fans, and zero drinks. Here's how I stayed sober at the FIFA World Cup in Miami.
I'm standing in a packed stadium in Miami. Uruguay versus Cape Verde. Seventy thousand people screaming. The energy is unreal. And about two rows down, a small fight breaks out and someone's beer ends up splashing onto my shoes.
Welcome to the World Cup.
Here's the thing: I didn't drink. Not before the game. Not during. Not after. And I had one of the best nights I've had in a long time.
You Don't Need Alcohol to Be in the Room
I went with a friend who also wasn't drinking, which always helps. Having someone next to you who gets it, or at least isn't pressuring you to grab a beer, makes the whole thing lighter. We were dancing in the stands, being silly, laughing at the fact that we were probably the only sober people in our section. And honestly? We were having more fun than most of the people around us.
The game ended 2-2. We missed a couple of goals because we were trying to use the bathroom and grab food before halftime. Classic. But that's how it goes. Life on life's terms.
I'd bought this little squishy Team USA duck that I was pumped to bring into the stadium. Carried it all the way through the gates, and sure enough, security pulled it from me. Too noisy, apparently. I'm standing there thinking, "You guys are literally selling these outside." But you know what? That's the kind of thing that used to ruin my night when I was drinking. Now it's just funny. You roll with it.
Managing Expectations Is Everything
The biggest tool I've found for staying sober at big events isn't willpower. It's expectations.
Get there early. Expect the crowd. Expect sticky floors covered in gum and melted ice cream. Expect that the seats are going to be packed and someone near you will probably be loud and drunk. Expect all of it. When you walk in already knowing what the deal is, nothing catches you off guard.
Sobriety gives you something that alcohol takes away: the ability to read a room and respond instead of react. Hazelden Betty Ford's guide on managing triggers puts it simply: awareness is your best tool. If someone spills beer on you, you can stay calm and move. If a fight breaks out, you can assess and leave. You're not adding to the chaos. You're navigating it.
That matters more than people realize, especially in a stadium environment where things can escalate fast.
Have a Plan. Have an Exit.
Here's what I do before any big event:
Know your exit. Where are the nearest stairs, tunnels, open areas? If things get overwhelming or something pops off, can you get out quickly? Not because you're paranoid. Because you're prepared.
Keep something in your hand. A soda, a water, a hot dog. It sounds simple, but having something to hold and sip on removes that awkward "everyone has a drink but me" feeling. It's a small thing that goes a long way.
Give yourself permission to leave your seat. Even if you're in the middle of the row. Even if it's inconvenient. If you need to step out, step out. My friend and I did exactly that. We found our own little corner to eat and people-watch and breathe for a minute before going back in. Nobody cared.
Bring someone who supports your sobriety. They don't have to be sober themselves. They just have to not be the person handing you a drink every five minutes.
The Miami Test
Miami during the World Cup is basically a city-wide party. Alcohol isn't just available, it's celebrated. We rode bikes along the beach one afternoon, and I could hear a bar host on a speaker literally telling the crowd, "Embrace the alcohol. Love the alcohol."
I laughed to myself. That's a different message than what I'd be preaching. But at the end of the day, everyone gets to live their life the way they choose. My job isn't to judge how other people show up. My job is to stay grounded in how I show up.
So I ride my bike. I go to the beach. I take in the sun. And when I'm done, I make sure I have a clear route back to where I'm staying that doesn't involve walking through a situation I don't want to be in. It's not about fear. It's about awareness. Knowing what environments serve me and which ones don't, and being honest enough with myself to act on that information.
What Are You Actually There For?
That's the question worth asking before any big event. Not "how am I going to avoid drinking?" but "what do I actually want out of this?"
I wanted to see the World Cup. I wanted to be in that stadium, feel that energy, watch world-class athletes compete at the highest level. I wanted to share it with a friend and make a memory that I'd actually remember the next morning.
All of that happened. None of it required a drink.
Sobriety gives you the chance to lean into what actually brings you joy. To invest your time, your energy, and yeah, even your money into the things that light you up rather than the things that numb you out. A World Cup ticket isn't cheap. I'd rather spend that money and remember every second than blow it and piece together the highlights from someone else's Instagram story.
If you're exploring what sober travel and adventure look like, I write about it regularly at nomadicaddictt.com. And if the deeper identity work around why we numb in the first place resonates, there's more of that in my book Love Unlocked: A Guide to Self-Acceptance and Conscious Relating or at loveunlocked.com.
Interested in 1:1 clinical coaching, sober companionship, or exploring what recovery looks like on the road?
Whether you're planning a sober trip, navigating a big event without drinking, or just trying to figure out what joy looks like without substances, I'm here. Learn more at nomadicaddictt.com or start the conversation.