V.K. SANTOSH KUMAR
For three football fans from Singapore, the closing stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026 offered far more than thrilling matches. It was a chance to witness history, experience the passion of supporters from around the world and see first-hand how the biggest tournament in football continues to evolve.
The month-long tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, culminated in Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at the 80,633-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute as Spain dominated possession and chances to lift their second World Cup title. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a record 11 saves in a heroic display, but could not prevent La Roja’s triumph.
For Spain-born Singapore resident Sunil Laungani, 42, watching his adopted homeland become world champions fulfilled a lifelong ambition.
The football entrepreneur, who runs Tinytots Sports in Singapore, bought tickets on the secondary market months in advance despite not knowing whether Spain would reach the final.
“I always dreamed of attending a World Cup final. I paid almost double the face value because I didn’t want to miss the opportunity,” he said.
His gamble paid off.
Although the predominantly Latin American crowd overwhelmingly supported Argentina, Sunil felt Spain completely deserved their victory.
“Spain totally dominated the match. Argentina looked as though they were trying to take the game to penalties, but Spain were by far the better team.”
He was equally impressed by the slick organisation inside the stadium, from the elaborate pre-match ceremony to the historic Super Bowl-style half-time entertainment featuring global stars.
After the final whistle, the celebrations continued well into the night.
“I went straight to Times Square and it was packed with Spanish fans singing and dancing. There was someone playing the dhol, a robot dancing and people celebrating everywhere. I stayed until 2am. That’s the Spanish way – everyone celebrates on the streets.”
Corporate affairs consultant Malminderjit Singh, 47, attended four matches, including Round of 16 and quarter-final fixtures, making it his third World Cup after Brazil in 2014 and Russia in 2018.
He praised the football but felt the overall tournament experience fell short of previous editions.
“The quality of football was excellent, but transport after the matches was a nightmare. In some cities it took more than two hours to leave the stadium, and in Miami police had to manage the crowds.”
He travelled with friends from Singapore and Vancouver to matches in Seattle, Los Angeles, Miami and Vancouver.
The expanded 48-team format created more opportunities for fans but also made the tournament feel much longer.
“There were many more matches, but it was exhausting. Everything was also much more expensive than previous World Cups. Tickets, hotels and internal flights all cost significantly more.”
He noted that stadium prices were equally eye-watering, with a can of soft drink costing about US$11.
Finance professional Raspal Singh Sidhu experienced another personal milestone by attending his first World Cup semi-final – Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 victory over England in Atlanta.
“I reached Atlanta a day early and the atmosphere around the fan zones was fantastic. England and Argentina supporters even had separate gathering areas, which helped keep everything peaceful.”
He described the match as a tense tactical battle.
“England became too defensive after taking the lead. Argentina punished them, and seeing Lionel Messi deliver a decisive cross with his right foot was something very special.”
Unlike many supporters who turned to the resale market, Raspal secured his Category 3 ticket through FIFA’s official ballot for about US$900.
Despite differing experiences, all three agreed on one point: there is simply nothing that compares to watching football’s greatest spectacle unfold live.
santosh@sph.com.sg
