My miserable 12½ hour US train journey at Club World Cup with £6 purple sludge ‘porridge' made me dream of British rail
American long distance trains are bad enough but the food they serve is even worse.
8
SunSport's Andy Dillon opens up on his treacherous 12-and-a-half hour journey across the United States
8
American long distance trains are bad enough but the food they serve is even worse
Credit: Getty
8
Chelsea face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final in New Jersey
Credit: AFP
The 'porridge' they serve makes the infamous British Rail pork pie of the 1970s look like the top of the menu fare from a Michelin Star restaurant.
And it's not cheap either.
Around £6 per pot of purple sludge that when mixed with a jet of boiling hot water forms an indigo mess that is as arduous on the stomach as the painfully slow services that run between some cities.
You may discover this
next
year when the
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Fans and players will be criss-crossing this vast country in many ways.
For
summer
it has been first class travel for a whole month - flights and five star
hotels
.
Cole Palmer will hopefully be following similar pathways
next
summer
with
England
.
But wherever way you travel, trekking around this massive country to compete in or even watch a football tournament is wearing.
Most read in Football
8
Dillon forked out £6 on awful oatmeal on the train
America has hosted a World Cup before. In 1994, when then
Ireland
boss Jack Charlton warned that someone could die from the heat.
Temperatures touching 40 degrees here over the past weeks,
The world is warmer now than it was back in the 1990s and will be even warmer
next
year.
Palmer has talked of the two hour flights everywhere draining his legs and his soul.
Chelsea's poster boy player turned up at the Club World Cup wearing a
8
Chelsea's poster boy player turned up at the Club World Cup wearing a PPE mask over his face
8
Cole Palmer said the travel across America has drained his soul
Credit: Getty
8
Palmer and PSG star Ousmane Dembele of PSG posed for snaps during a visit to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center on Saturday
Credit: Getty
Unfortunately, he will have to go through it all again because Americans love flying and
driving
.
Back in 1987 there was a hit movie - Planes, Trains and Automobiles - a comic tale of two stranded men trying to make it home for
Christmas
by any means when
snow
puts paid to their hopes of taking a jet home.
It's planes and
cars
for the people over here. The trains are a joke.
At least the one that took 12½ hours to carry me just 550 miles from Charlotte to Philadelphia to catch up with the
You can just about take a similar journey by rail in the UK but you might fall off the end of our little country into the sea at the end.
But it wouldn't take more than half a day to do it either. It would take around half that time.
Amtrak's number 80 service from
North Carolina
to Pennsylvania is an experience. Good or bad is debatable.
They know that the 6.45am departure time means passengers are going to get hungry pretty quickly, and they have a captive market for the stuff they pass off as food as you chug along at no more than 40mph with a stinky old
diesel
engine dragging the carriages behind it like some sad old pack donkey.
And once you reach Washington, brace yourself for a half hour wait while the
diesel
loco is uncoupled and the electric one
hooked
up - only then can you speed along at a decent pace.
8
Fans have been warned to prepare for frequent delays at the 2026 World Cup as extreme weather wreaks havoc at the Club World Cup
Chelsea
began their Club World Cup campaign in Atlanta and were so convinced they would win their group that they earmarked
Miami
as their
next
training base.
It didn't quite work out that way and they ended as runners up.
But still they chose sunny
Florida
and glamorous South Beach as a temporary HQ.
This meant flying to their last 16 game in Charlotte and then back up north to Philly for their quarter final win over Palmeiras.
From there's been onwards to New York, The Big
Apple
, and while it's
luxury
all the way for the players, they are still getting fed up with being cooped up in hotel rooms and strange beds.
Downtime for them has been ping pong,
basketball
, dinners together and walks.
Only last week French defender
The thing with America is that it doesn't need to sell itself. It's the richest and most entertaining country in the world. And it knows it.
Unsurprisingly, being run by someone like Donald Trump means the US is wrapped up in itself.
It's not been difficult finding a local who has no clue that the Club World Cup is actually happening within their borders.
There won't be so much ignorance
next
year at the real World Cup but don't bet against it.
Club World Cup 2025 Guide
SOME of the world's biggest clubs are in action at this summer's Club World Cup in the United States!
Chelsea are keeping Premier League hopes alive in the big tournament which is on until the final at New Jersey's Metlife Stadium July 13.
Though Manchester City have been knocked out by Saudi Pro side Al-Hilal after losing in a 4-3 thriller.
INFO
Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup
LATEST NEWS & FEATURES
Club World Cup top scorers
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Fans say football's ‘never been further gone' as Coldplay make shock appearance at Club World Cup half-time show
FANS declared that football has 'never been further gone' after Coldplay made a shock appearance during the Club World Cup final's half-time show. Supporters were left stunned as Chelsea produced a masterclass to beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0. Advertisement 6 Coldplay made a surprise appearance during the Club World Cup final's half-time show 6 Football fans were left cringing at the performance And there was chaos at full-time when However, fans were The American tradition saw artists like Tems and J Balvin perform on a raised stage at the top of the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL And the show ended with a surprise appearance from Chris Martin's Coldplay. The lengthy production saw the half-time break last over 20 minutes. It saw supporters flock online to express their disgust at seeing football introduce a half-time show. One said: 'Football's never been further gone.' Advertisement Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Another declared: 'Half time shows and national anthems, game's gone.' One noted: 'Half time show at 3-0 down must feel diabolical.' Club World Cup final descends into huge brawl with Enzo Maresca pulling Chelsea players away after Donnarumma madness 6 Cole Palmer scored twice as Chelsea beat PSG 3-0 Advertisement 6 The match ended in a fight as Luis Enrique slapped Joao Pedro 6 President Donald Trump unexpectedly joined in the trophy celebrations 6 Another boomed: 'Wtf are Coldplay doing there?' Advertisement One decreed: 'A sky full of stars.' Another added: 'Why is this happening?' Even Jeremy Clarkson got involved. The former Top Gear star said: 'People of America. So you know. Advertisement 'Half time at a football match is for a pie. Not singing.'
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit holiday airline warns of flight delays over summer and blames French for hold ups
FLIGHTS this summer will suffer massive delays because of French hold ups, a Brit airline boss has warned. The dismal forecast comes as 1 Brits should expect long delays this summer, an airline boss has warned Credit: Getty Chief Commercial Officer at Easyjet Sophie Dekkers blamed the expected She told "They don't have the people on the ground to be able to cope with the amount of traffic that's covering their airspace and they don't have the capacity to cope with the traffic.' With 70 per cent of short-haul flights going in and out of the UK using French airpsace, the Read more on Travel So, staffing issues or poor planning could be As well as affecting flights to France, departures to some of Brits' favourite holiday hotspots will also be hit such as, Spain, Greece, Italy and Croatia. Most aircrafts will do She said: "when people say, 'why is my London-Scotland flight delayed by French traffic control?' Most read in News Travel "It's because previously that flight was scheduled to do London to Spain and back, and then London to Scotland and back." Issues relating to air traffic control have caused 49 per cent of delays for easyJet since the start of the holiday season (since Easter). Flight Chaos in Europe: French ATC Strikes Disrupt Travel for Thousands This is a 77 per cent hike compared with the same period last year. And with 20 per cent of European airspace still shut, due to the war in Ukraine, delays and scheduling problems have only intensified, she added. 'Severe disruption' EU officials told the Flight compensation rules A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight. You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline. When am I not entitled to compensation? The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled? If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you. Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer. Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof. If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance. They added that last year was the worst summer yet for delays and cancellations and "this year will be very similar". Approximately 37,000 flights occur in Strikes, such as those recently in France, have also made the situation worse. Eurocontrol, the organisation responsible for air traffic control in Europe, said flights were "impacted by air traffic control (ATC) industrial action between 2-5 July 2025, leading to severe disruption for passengers, airlines and airports." In total, there were 3,343 fewer flights to and from French airports compared to the previous week - all of which were cancelled due to the strike. Europe currently also has a reduced airspace due to the war in Ukraine. The EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas explained that this, paired with the shortage of controllers, "threatens to overburden the air network and disappoint passengers". He saod airports are now more congested and "Europe cannot afford chaos in the skies". Travel advice With a summer of further disruptions expected, The Sun's head of travel Lisa Minot has advised what you should do if travelling this summer. She said: "Whatever happens if it is [your flight] delayed or cancelled for reasons outside of the the airlines control, then unfortunately there is no compensation due. "But the airline does have a duty of care to look after you. "If your flight is cancelled and it is the airline's fault ... then you could be due compensation. "It could be anything up to £520." Last month The airline revealed the worst air traffic control centres (ATCs) for delays and this included the UK as the fifth worst. Ryanair said that the Micheal O'Leary, the airline's CEO, also said that if staff shortages and ATC issues are not sorted, there will be "record ATC flight delays this summer". The airline's 'League of Delays' revealed that France and Spain have been the most impacted so far this year, with 15,634 and 11,576 flights delayed respectively. The airline has also claimed that 90 per cent of their flight cancellations during the French ATC strikes, could have been avoided if overflights over France were allowed to take place. Many airlines are now calling on This would mean that airlines would not follow diversions via several points, but instead fly straight to a destination. Last year, air traffic was up by five per cent compared to 2023, with over a third of flights delayed by more than 15minutes on arrival, according to Overall, delays averaged around 21.4minutes per flight.
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Club World Cup final descends into huge brawl as PSG manager Luis Enrique SLAPS Chelsea's Joao Pedro in face
LUIS ENRIQUE sparked a mass brawl as he SLAPPED Joao Pedro following Chelsea's Club World Cup final win. The Paris Saint-Germain manager lost his marbles as he lunged for the Blues' new Brazilian star, Advertisement 10 Luis Enrique lost his head as he slapped Joao Pedro after the Club World Cup final 10 PSG's manager put hands on Pedro after losing 3-0 10 It sparked a mass brawl on the field as players from both sides joined the fray Credit: Channel 5 10 Pedro appeared to be hurt as he clutched his face Credit: AP 10 Players on both sides were left fuming Credit: Reuters 10 Enzo Maresca rushed to push Enrique away Credit: Getty The former Barcelona manager appeared to slap Pedro while also placing his hands on the striker. Gianluigi Donnarumma was particularly incensed as staff members from both sides ran towards the action. But the battle was short-lived as Advertisement As for Enrique, his scowl could not be disguised as he was ushered away in shame. Fans were quick to react to the shocking incident. One said: "What a salty man." Another declared: "No class." Advertisement Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS One noted: "Friendly they said." Another added: "Head lost." PSG's Joao Neves sent off for pulling Chelsea star Marc Cucurella's HAIR in Club World Cup final 10 Cole Palmer scored twice as the Blues made history in America Advertisement 10 Chelsea won in glorious style against all odds 10 President Donal Trump joined in the celebrations on stage Credit: Reuters 10 Enrique's shameful behaviour did little to dampen the spirits as Chelsea celebrated a historic win. Advertisement The Blues tore PSG apart in the first half as they struck three goals. Cole Palmer scored Chelsea's opener before doubling the lead minutes later. He then turned provided as Pedro, who only joined from Brighton last week, chipped home for the third. Chelsea then kept PSG at bay in the second half, with Robert Sanchez making several top saves. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun And the French side's night got even worse when Joao Neves was sent off late for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair. Chelsea finally got to lift their trophy later on, with President Donald Trump joining them on the podium in hilarious fashion.
