Sebastian Reader is among thousands of England fans who have crossed the Atlantic to follow the Three Lions – even if it meant moving back in with his parents.
'It's always obviously been a dream to go watch England in a major tournament, specifically the World Cup,' the 28-year-old said in Dallas. 'It's the biggest tournament on the planet.'
Fan's financial commitment
The London-based data sales worker arrived in the US in June with a £30,000 budget after taking a three-month sabbatical. A year ago, he had around £10,000 in savings. Since then, he has put away another £20,000 — boosted by commission, moving back home for six months to skip rent and cutting back elsewhere.
'That was obviously a big sacrifice,' he said.
Costs have quickly spiralled. Tickets alone have set him back more than £9,000, including a semi-final, while he expects to spend around £7,500 on accommodation and more than £3,000 on travel before August.
No regrets despite costs
Reader admits the scale of spending hasn't gone unnoticed. The money could have gone towards a house deposit with his long-term girlfriend – but he has no regrets. 'Money will always come back,' he said.
For now, everything hinges on England's progress. He doesn't yet have a ticket for the final — but is ready to make another big call if the Three Lions get there. The most he would pay is about £4,500.
'This is definitely going to be the biggest trip of my life,' he said. 'In my mind, it's a great investment.'
Financial expert weighs in
Soaring prices at the tournament — driven by record base costs, dynamic pricing and resale rules — have pushed tickets higher and drawn scrutiny. But financial planner Lawrence Pon said spending big from savings can make sense – as long as it doesn't derail long-term goals. He said it is acceptable 'if it does not negatively impact your financial goals, such as living expenses, savings reserve, (and) retirement.'
