Several Singaporean football fans traveled more than 16,000 km to attend FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in North America, spending high sums to fulfill lifelong dreams and experience world-class football culture [1, 2, 3, 4].
Jason Low and six of his friends each spent at least S$17,000 on flights, accommodation, and match tickets. They also budgeted an additional S$3,000 for daily expenses while on the trip, pushing total costs beyond S$20,000 per person [1, 2, 3, 4]. Low said, "We don’t regret it at all, and we have enjoyed every single day here. It’s not just about football but the broader experience of being with close, childhood friends and also being able to travel to a new country and experience the (football) culture here" [1].
The group watched South Korea’s 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic on June 11 in Guadalajara, Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia on June 14 in Monterrey, and Colombia’s match against Uzbekistan on June 17 in Mexico City. They planned to see Paraguay face Turkey on June 19 in San Francisco before returning home [1, 2, 3, 4].
Other Singaporean fans took a more budget-conscious approach. David and Asothan skipped costly match tickets, choosing instead to soak up the World Cup ambience in local bars while watching games [1, 2, 3, 4]. However, some like Firdaus Khan found the overall costs excessive despite enjoying the stadium experience [1, 2, 3, 4].
Planning for the trip began about a year ago, coinciding with the friends’ 50th birthdays. Aaron Kok, founder of the boutique sports travel agency 1896 Travel, assisted with arrangements [1, 2, 3, 4].
Jason Low’s passion for the World Cup traces back to his childhood, with some sources stating he began watching the 1968 edition at age 8, while others cite the 1986 tournament as his starting point, particularly recalling Diego Maradona’s infamous "hand of God" goal in the Argentina vs England quarter-final [1, 2, 3, 4].
Fans plan to attend the Paraguay vs Turkey match on June 19 in San Francisco before concluding their trip and returning to Singapore [1, 2, 3, 4].
