Dream World Cup Trip Ended Before Historic Win
An England supporter who spent more than £6,600 following the Three Lions at the World Cup was forced to watch their historic victory over Mexico from a pub back home after her dream trip ended before the knockout rounds.
Sammie Bell, 30, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, described herself as “gutted” after returning to England just days before the team’s dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico, a result that secured their place in the World Cup quarter-finals and marked one of England’s greatest victories on foreign soil.
After spending 25 days travelling across the United States supporting England, Bell watched the match from her local pub more than 5,000 miles away.
“Watching England from the pub just doesn’t hit the same,” she said. “It was the first England game I’ve missed in years, and I’m still hoping I can somehow make it back.”
The matches against DR Congo and Mexico were the first England fixtures Bell had missed in six years. In the thrilling win over Mexico, Jude Bellingham scored twice, Harry Kane added another goal, and defender Jarell Quansah was sent off.
Inspired by England’s progress, Bell is now considering another trip to the United States to watch the quarter-final against Norway, despite the significant expense of her original journey.
She estimates her World Cup adventure cost a total of £6,689, money she saved by working two to three jobs over the past few years.
“Following England at a World Cup had always been a dream of mine, and it was worth every penny,” Bell said. “I tracked my spending through Revolut and stayed in Airbnbs for most of the trip to keep costs down.”
Her only regret, she admitted, was not purchasing knockout-stage tickets earlier in the year.
“At the time, committing to every possible game just wasn’t realistic given the overall cost,” she explained.
Bell’s 25-day trip took her through six states, 10 cities and five England matches, including two friendlies in Florida and all of the team’s group-stage games.
She also made time to explore local attractions, visiting NASA’s space centre, Busch Gardens and attending a darts event. While she managed to secure discounted flights using American Express reward points and spent only £272 on domestic flights, everyday expenses quickly added up, with beer prices ranging from around £3.75 to £16.50 per pint.
Bell withdrew £1,800 in cash for the trip and returned home with just £4.50 left.
Despite the high price tag, she believes the experience represented good value.
“I’ve seen people spend more than this on World Cup tickets alone,” she said. “When you factor in flights, accommodation, transport, food, sightseeing and everything else, I don’t think it’s as expensive as people might expect—although it’s still the most I’ve ever spent on a trip.”
