For many football supporters, attending the FIFA World Cup remains a dream. However, rising travel expenses and expensive match tickets have made that dream difficult for many fans.
One supporter from England decided not to miss the atmosphere altogether.
Instead of travelling to the tournament hosts, 21-year-old Will Vickers created his own football journey by travelling across seven countries in seven days to watch World Cup matches with local fans.
His plan offered a different way to experience the excitement while staying within his budget.
A Budget Alternative to Stadium Tickets
Will Vickers, who studies international business management at Lincoln University in England, said attending matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico was financially unrealistic.
“As much as I’d like to be there, the budget was never going to happen,” he said.
He also explained that he wanted something more memorable than simply staying indoors and following matches remotely.
“and I didn’t want to just watch the games in my room.”
As a result, he decided to turn the tournament into a travel experience.
The Idea Started During a Trip to Morocco
The journey began earlier in the month while Vickers was travelling in Marrakech with friends. During the trip, they watched Morocco’s match against Brazil among local supporters. That atmosphere changed his perspective.
Watching football surrounded by passionate fans reduced the feeling of missing out. A friend then suggested continuing the experience in different countries. Vickers embraced the idea. He explained his thinking simply: “I’m only 21 once for the World Cup.”
Seven Countries, Seven Days and a Different Football Experience
Vickers began his journey by travelling from Manchester to Charleroi in Belgium through a combination of flights and buses.
He then continued to Brussels and watched Belgium’s match against Iran at a fan zone. After Belgium, he travelled to Paris and stayed overnight to watch France face Iraq.
The trip continued to Tuzla in Bosnia. According to Vickers, Bosnia delivered the most memorable atmosphere of the journey. He described celebrations continuing late into the night after the home supporters enjoyed a 3-1 result against Qatar.
Cars filled the streets while fans celebrated and sang together. The next stage of the trip took him into Croatia. During that leg, he missed check-in and eventually spent the night on a local resident’s sofa. He also planned to continue travelling through Sweden and Norway before returning to England.
Watching the World Cup Without Stadium Seats
By the end of the trip, Vickers expected his total spending to reach approximately $600. Compared with travelling directly to the tournament and buying match tickets, the amount remained significantly lower.
Although he acknowledged the experience differs from sitting inside a stadium, he felt it captured much of the excitement.
“It’s not like being at a match, but it’s really not far off,” he said.
Rising Costs Are Changing How Fans Experience Major Events
Increasing ticket prices, dynamic pricing models, and expensive resale markets continue to make live attendance difficult for many supporters. As a result, alternatives such as fan zones, public screenings, and local watch parties are becoming increasingly popular.
Financial experts also suggest that enjoying major events should remain balanced with long-term financial planning.
Travelling for memorable experiences can still be rewarding. However, budgeting and preparing for unexpected expenses remain important.
For many fans, the atmosphere matters just as much as being inside the stadium. Will Vickers’ journey shows that sometimes the experience can be created in unexpected ways.
