With all the USSF ticket polls, it seems like threads are falling off the front page quicker than a Hollywood marriage, but here goes... Do fans at the World Cups ever exchange souvenirs from their respective national teams? I was thinking it would be cool to have a few pins, scarves, small flags, etc. to exchange with our opposing fans similar to the players trading jerseys (except for the damn Mexicans). Did this happen at all in 2002? Do we know of any non-expensive, easy to transport USMNT souvenirs? Beads and blankets probably wouldnt be a good ideas, except maybe some type of Mardi Gras beads.
When I went to the Holland/US friendly in '04 in Amsterdam the Dutch fans were trying to get my US Jersey -- they were offering all kinds of their own stuff (jerseys, scarves, flags, etc) in exchange so I assume you'll see the same kind of response in Germany for the WC Matches. I'd come prepared.
They can have my WC 2006 Commemorative Bitburger Beer Cup. It'll be empty though, so I hope they don't mind.
I'll be bringing extra scarves--club and country--to swap. furthermore I will gladly trade phone numbers with petr cech
Don't know how it will be in Germany but in Korea you could trade anything. We brought little US flag pins and handed them to people who did us a favor. The response was great and many times we'd get something in return. We also had pins from our local soccer organization. They were also big hits as they were not the same old thing. My wife traded a cheap knock-off Donovan jersey for a shirt from one for the workers in Suwon (a cool adidas polo with the WC logo). Flags, scarfs and shirts will likely get you something in return. People were even trading with Polish fans after the last group game where we lost.
I may also bring some local Turistenscheiß, like lobster hats or such, to throw around, especially since the lobster hats are easy to pack and amusingly stupid.