The 2026 World Cup has been an immense spectacle, featuring 102 matches over the course of 35 days, with athletes, coaches, and fans journeying across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino himself has undertaken a remarkable 50,000-mile journey via private jet. Meanwhile, some dedicated fans of the final four teams, competing in this weekend’s third-place playoff and the decisive final, have somehow managed to be present for every match along the way.
We spoke to three World Cup superfans about their journeys, the financial costs involved, and whether it has all been worth it.
Contributions to this story were made by ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano, Connor O’Halloran, and Lluis Bou.
Explore:
Spain’s Trumpeter
Argentina’s Face-Painted Superfan
England’s Three Lions Fans
Spain‘s Trumpeter
Sete Fernández is the soundtrack to Spain’s 37-game unbeaten streak, attending every match in this impressive run, including their journey to the World Cup final.
How has your World Cup journey been so far, and what has it cost you?
Fernández: “I’m truly enjoying every moment. I got here on June 14 and have experienced so much since then. Reflecting on when we were in Guadalajara against Uruguay, it feels like a lifetime ago. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions.
“I definitely feel the fatigue from all the traveling. We’ve been hopping from airport to airport for over a month now, dealing with long car rides as well. Honestly, it can get exhausting. But seeing our national team perform so well makes it all worth it.
“As fans, our goal is to stay on budget for the World Cup and save wherever possible. We often split costs for accommodation and flights to make our money stretch further to reach the final.
“Sacrifices are part of the deal, like staying in cheap hostels that might accommodate twice the number of guests. Surviving here is what’s most important right now. The prices here are steep, but as we say, ‘For Spain, anything it takes!’”
How long have you been a supporter of Spain?
Fernández: “My journey began at Euro 2004. My first match was Spain vs. Russia in Faro, Portugal. I thought I should bring my trumpet along since I supported Club Deportivo Alhaurino, a lower division team.
“After witnessing Spain’s performance, I realized how much the fans loved the trumpet and decided to continue bringing it to matches. My trumpet became a staple at tournaments, especially during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where it really shined.
“Before this, I could only attend one or two matches due to financial constraints. But after joining supporters’ clubs, I now go to every match. I’ve followed Spain through all 37 of their last games, proudly bringing my trumpet to each one. It would be a dream to reach the final in the United States and play my trumpet in New York!”
What led to you playing the trumpet at matches?
Fernández: “It wasn’t something I initially planned; it just developed organically after bringing my trumpet to that European Championship. The fans responded positively, and I gradually continued bringing it along to tournaments.
“Now, my trumpet has become synonymous with Spanish fans, and it brings us luck. Thanks to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), we’re now setting up meet-ups for fans and organizing routes to the stadiums, which makes for a great atmosphere.”
What were the best and worst moments for you during this World Cup?
Fernández: “I believe the best is yet to come. I’m always the optimist among my friends. From the start, I had faith that Spain would make it to the final. Our flawless qualifying campaign added to my confidence.
“The worst part has been the long waits between matches. Just before the tournament, after a delayed flight from Málaga, our connecting flight from Miami to Atlanta was canceled less than 10 hours before the opening match. I had two choices: miss the match entirely or drive 10 hours straight to make it on time.
“We opted to drive and arrived just as the game started with hardly any sleep. Those have been the two significant moments of this World Cup. I hope Spain wins — we have a fantastic team!
“We fans are tired from all this traveling, but let’s hope our efforts pay off.”
Do you think Spain will win the World Cup?
Fernández: “Absolutely! I have complete faith. From the beginning, I knew Spain would perform excellently in this tournament, and the results have supported that. They’ve only conceded one goal so far!
“We’re no longer just waiting for things to happen like before; we’ve moved beyond quarterfinals. At the last European Championship, once past the quarterfinals, the rest became much simpler.”
Argentina‘s Face-Painted Superfan
Rodrigo Gonzalez Cejas is undoubtedly a superfan, making it to every match during this World Cup, even if it meant being outside the stadiums. He has become well-known among the Argentina crowd for his enthusiastic face painting.
How has your World Cup journey been, and what has it cost you?
Cejas: “This trip has been much pricier than Qatar in 2022, around $30,000 overall. I traveled to Boston and Los Angeles, trying to secure tickets but faced financial obstacles. Nonetheless, my priority remained with Argentina, so even without tickets, I soaked in the atmosphere outside the stadiums and connected with fellow fans.”
How long have you been following Argentina?
Cejas: “I started my journey during the 2014 World Cup, attending every Argentina match. I was at every game back then, even without tickets, making my way in as best I could. Since 2014, I’ve been to every qualifier, both home and away, covering places like Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, and Chile. I’ve been to over 100 Argentina matches since then.”
How did you start painting your face?
Cejas: “I began painting my face during the World Cup in 2014, at the match against the Netherlands. I used to wear my original long-sleeved Argentina jersey, but often added a San Lorenzo shirt over it for good measure, especially in the rain. That look has become my go-to: face paint, Argentina jersey, and San Lorenzo shirt. It feels like a good luck charm.”
What have been the best and worst moments of this World Cup for you?
Cejas: “My favorite match was against Egypt. After the dramatic final against France last year, it was a match full of tension. We were down 2–0 and the chances didn’t look good, but we managed to turn it around and win.”
Do you think Argentina will win the World Cup?
Cejas: “While we aren’t the favorites, we know that reaching the final is one thing, and winning is another. The French understand this well – they won in 2018, and we clinched our title in 2022. Football can be unpredictable.”
England’s Supportive Family
Representing “The Three Lions,” the Hawkins family from Cholsey, Oxfordshire, have taken their lion costumes to each game of England’s journey in the 2026 World Cup.
How has your World Cup journey been so far, and what has it cost you?
Eve: “It’s been incredible! However, considering the vast distances one must travel in America, it’s been quite taxing. We kicked off in Mexico, hoping to catch England’s games, and experiencing the Azteca was phenomenal.”
Howard: “We’ve traveled approximately 40,000 kilometers [25,000 miles].”
Eve: “The heat can be oppressive, particularly in our lion costumes. Miami was brutally humid, making it hard to stay cool. People constantly ask for photos, so we can’t even take a breather sometimes.”
Glen: “Our total costs have reached roughly £45,000.”
Glen: “Ultimately, if you love family, sport, meeting people, and discovering new places, nothing quite matches a World Cup experience. The memories from this journey are unparalleled, though I wouldn’t mind if it cost a bit less!”
Howard: “The financial burden would be immense if we were to reach the final. It would feel like we invested so much just to fall short.”
How long have you been following England?
Howard: “Our first tournament was Brazil in 2014, and we’ve since attended every competition, including European Championships.”
Howard: “Upon our first visit to Brazil, England was knocked out early, but we stayed to celebrate and enjoy the atmosphere.”
What have been your best and worst moments of this World Cup?
Glen: “There have been way more highs than lows. Experiencing the World Cup is fantastic, but the Miami match left me feeling fatigued due to the heat and poorly organized logistics for getting to the stadium.”
Howard: “I had a rough night out in Miami, but my dad didn’t take the costume off until the end. He was fully committed even after a night of partying.”
Glen: “The only temporary lows were during the matches against Norway and the Congo DR when we fell behind. But those moments just heightened the eventual joy.”
Howard: “The highlight, of course, was at the Azteca, fighting against Mexico with 80,000 fans against our 4,000. Hearing that final whistle was emotional.”
Glen: “Tears came to my eyes just walking into the stadium, thinking of how long I’ve wanted to experience that. I felt the same emotion on the way out after the match.”
Howard: “That was the pinnacle of sporting events for us.”
How did the idea of wearing lion costumes come about?
Howard: “It was my dad’s idea; it originated during the 2024 Euros in Germany. It was just a fun impulse. When we wore them in Germany, it caught attention, and we received more interviews than expected. But with the World Cup, the exposure has shocked us.”
Howard: “We make sure to get behind the goal every match, as we’re part of the England Supporters Club. The cameras seem to find us easily!”
Eve: “We washed the costumes before the semifinal against Argentina, which was a necessary evil because it was so hot in Miami.”
Howard: “We even contemplated not washing them for good luck. It all feels like fate.”