Privacy policy

We collect as little as we can. You can read every page without an account, and the site sets no cookies. We don't show ads and we don't sell data.

Who is responsible

World Cup Guide is run by its editor, A.D., who lives in the United States. The editor decides how your data is used and is responsible for it under the EU and UK GDPR. Write to hello@worldcupguide2030.com with any question or request.

What we collect, and why

• Server logs. Like every website, our host receives your IP address, your browser type, the page you asked for and the time. We use these logs only to keep the site running and secure. Our host is Google (Firebase App Hosting), which keeps them for up to 30 days.
• Visit counts. We count visits with our own code. When you open a page, your browser tells our server which page it is, which site or link sent you, your device's time zone (we keep only the country it is in) and whether it is a phone, tablet or computer. We also count clicks on buttons such as subscribe or share, and on links to other sites. Our server adds each one to the day's totals, kept with our host, Google. It sets no cookies, stores nothing on your device and keeps no IP address or visitor ID: your IP address is used only in the moment, to block abuse and leave out our own visits. We see totals only, such as views per page, visits per country and where visits came from.
• Polls. When you vote, we store only the new total. Your IP address stays in the server's memory for up to an hour to stop repeat voting, then it is dropped. It is never saved.
• Newsletter. Our newsletter runs on Substack. When you subscribe, you give your email address to Substack on its own site, and Substack's privacy policy applies. As the publisher, we can see the subscriber list.
• Emails to us. If you write to us, we keep your message and address to answer you, and delete them within 12 months of the last message.

Our legal basis for server logs, visit counts and polls is our legitimate interest in running a secure site and knowing which pages readers use (GDPR Article 6(1)(f)). For Getty photos it is your consent (Article 6(1)(a)).

What stays on your device

Some features remember your choices in your browser's storage. This data never leaves your device:

• light or dark mode
• the cities and stadiums you save to My trip
• the polls you have voted in
• your choice to show Getty photos
• that you have seen the home page intro, until you close the tab

To remove all of it, clear this site's data in your browser settings.

Photos, maps and links

• Photos. Our photos are stored on our own servers, so loading them sends nothing to anyone else.
• Getty Images. Getty photos load only after you choose "Show Getty photos". Getty's player then receives your visit data and may set its own cookies. Your choice is remembered in this browser until you withdraw it here.

• Maps. We draw our own maps, so no map service receives your data.
• Other sites. When you follow a link to another site, including a booking partner, that site's privacy policy applies. A partner may record on its own site that you came from us.

Where your data goes

The editor, our host and our newsletter platform are in the United States, so your data may be processed there. Google takes part in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and its UK extension.

Your rights

If you are in the EU, the EEA or the UK, you can ask to see, correct or delete your personal data, to restrict or object to how we use it, or to get a copy. Write to hello@worldcupguide2030.com. We reply within one month. You can also complain to a data protection authority, such as the CNPD in Portugal, the AEPD in Spain, the CNIL in France or the ICO in the UK.

If you live in California or another US state with a privacy law, you have similar rights. We don't sell or share your personal information, and we don't use it for targeted advertising.

Children

The site is for a general audience and is not aimed at children under 16. We don't knowingly collect their data.

Changes

When we change this policy, we update the date at the top. If we ever add ads or any service that needs your consent, we will update this page and ask for your consent before it loads.