A late-night match with the kids sparks a wave of nostalgia, proving that even 24 years after the magic of 2002, the World Cup still holds a rare, global power to unite us across all divisions.

I remember being young and walking around my hometown's alleys, listening to the cheers for goals or loud sounds of disappointment. It was the World Cup of 2002. I was about 13 years old, and suddenly I learned that this event brings the world together. Twenty-four years ago, the internet and immediate access to information weren’t readily available, but yet the World Cup made the world come closer together than nothing else could.

Last night, my kids wouldn’t go to sleep because they wanted to watch the World Cup final. It was really funny to witness them trying to stay awake after a long day at the beach just to see who won the trophy. My 12-year-old gave up and fell asleep during halftime, while my 7-year-old stayed awake to see the results.

Surreally enough, I traveled 24 years back in time to when I spent my nights in front of the national TV channel to watch the games.

For years now, despite the cultural differences between each nation, there is no division during this time. People from all over the world come together to celebrate and spend time with friends and family.