Seb Reader, a 28-year-old business development manager from Wandsworth, saved £30,000 to attend the World Cup in the United States by moving back in with his mother and sister. He had already saved £10,000 but stockpiled an additional £20,000 by cutting his monthly rent from £1,300 to just £350 in contributions toward household bills.
Since January, Reader has been able to save £2,000 per month from his commission payments. He flew to the US in June to watch England's first match and has attended every game since. So far, he has spent £9,300 on seven match tickets but has yet to secure a ticket for the final.
Sacrifices and Savings
Reader told SWNS: "I had a bit of a tough period in life which pushed me to make the steps needed to get the plan underway." He added that he felt an "unwavering support of England" this year and believes the team has a good chance of winning, praising the manager.
By moving home, Reader eliminated rent and food shopping costs, allowing him to save aggressively. His total trip budget is £30,000, covering flights (£3,225), accommodation (£7,500), food and drink (£6,000), local transport (£2,000), insurance (£295), and visa/extras (£1,760).
Ticket Struggles and Travel Plans
Reader initially tried to buy tickets through the England Travellers Supporters Club and the FIFA ballot but had no luck. He eventually secured tickets through a friend who works at a sports marketing agency. He flew to Chicago on June 1 for solo exploration, then to Nashville to meet a friend, followed by Dallas for England's first match, Boston for the Ghana match, and New York on June 25. He plans to stay in the US for three months, returning on August 26.
Regarding the final, Reader said: "It was a budget set for the trip of £30,000 and I’m right at the budget and final tickets are looking around £10,000 so I don’t know. It’s all extortionate anyway... But you never know, you’ve got to believe someone hears the story and I might get a final ticket." He is considering flying back to the UK to watch the final there, which he says would be cheaper, then returning to the US afterward.
Experiences and Social Media
Beyond matches, Reader has enjoyed a road trip through Nashville, visited Memphis and Graceland, and explored the hot springs of Arkansas. He noted that beer at fan parks costs $21 for a large cup, saying, "It was free entry but clearly they put the free entry back on the drinks." He was surprised that some Americans he spoke to in Chicago were unaware the World Cup was happening.
Reader shares his travel plans on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, where the response has been "supportive." His girlfriend, with whom he is doing long distance, will fly out to join him after the World Cup.
