A devoted football enthusiast splurged £22,000 on an unforgettable journey to the World Cup but fell short on affording tickets for England matches. Ben Laing, aiming to create lasting memories for his two sons, found the prices for Three Lions games to be excessively high. Consequently, he opted for attending five matches involving various other nations, much to the excitement of his sons, Alfie and James.
Alfie, aged 12, even received permission to depart school early for a flight to the United States to experience the tournament. Ben, a 50-year-old scaffold product manager from Liverpool, expressed that the expenditure, totaling around £22,000, encompassed match tickets, accommodations, and airfare. He highlighted the educational value of the trip, mentioning that the boys had already learned about historical events and figures like the shooting of JFK and civil rights activist Rosa Parks.
Despite considering purchasing England tickets, Ben found them financially unfeasible. Thus, the family plans to attend other World Cup games, including fixtures like Algeria versus Argentina in Kansas City and Holland versus Japan in Dallas. The itinerary also includes matches in Atlanta and Toronto, where Ben’s wife Denise will join them. The family, avid Liverpool supporters who were present at the Kop when the team secured the Premier League title in 2025, currently resides in Dublin.
Alfie, a fan of Morgan Rogers, and James, who admires Jude Bellingham, expressed their enthusiasm for attending five games. England is set to kick off their tournament in Dallas, facing Croatia in the group stage before continuing to Boston and New York. An estimated 20,000 England fans are anticipated at the opening match, with many being expatriates residing in Dallas or traveling from other regions of the United States.