Will Vickers is an avid World Cup fan. But with travel to the US, Canada and Mexico out of his budget — and many match tickets already prohibitively expensive — he’s found a more affordable way to follow the tournament: travelling across seven countries in seven days to watch seven games with local fans.

“As much as I’d like to be there, the budget was never going to happen,” says the 21-year-old, who is currently in his second year studying international business management at Lincoln University in Lincoln, England, “and I didn’t want to just watch the games in my room.”

The idea originated earlier this month in Marrakech, where Vickers and his friends watched Morocco draw against Brazil with locals while on vacation.

The experience eased Vickers’ FOMO — fear of missing out — so his friend suggested he continue travelling to different places and watch games there. He did, saying, “I’m only 21 once for the World Cup.”

The trips have been relatively cheap — at least compared with attending matches in person.

For the first leg, Vickers spent $53 to travel via plane and bus from Manchester to Charleroi, Belgium, and then Brussels, where he watched Belgium play Iran at a fan zone.

He then took another bus to Paris, where he stayed for one night to watch France play Iraq, an experience that cost just around $60.

The next stop was Tuzla, Bosnia, which he says had “the best atmosphere.”

Fans were celebrating the 3-1 result against Qatar until the early hours of the morning, with cars beeping and people singing through the streets.

He spent $52 getting to Croatia, taking a bus from Bosnia to Slavonski Brod, where he missed check-in and slept on a local’s sofa.

He plans to go to Sweden and Norway next before returning home to England.

In total, Vickers estimates he’ll spend about $600 on his travels — a fraction of what it might cost to attend the tournament in person.

While it doesn’t compare to being inside a stadium, he says the experience comes close.

“It’s not like being at a match, but it’s really not far off,” he says.

The cost of watching live

Record prices, dynamic pricing and uncapped resale have made World Cup tickets unaffordable for many fans.

Byrke Sestok, a partner at Moneco Advisors, says watch parties are an amazing way to be part of the experience of major sporting events.

“It’s much less expensive and just about as good,” Sestok says.

Europe, in particular, offers relatively affordable options, with rail passes and youth hostels helping to keep costs low.

But travellers should plan conservatively, he adds, as expenses can quickly add up.

“If you are going on a stretched budget, you may want to think twice about that,” Sestok says.

Balance is key, he adds, noting that spending on experiences should not come at the expense of financial stability.

“If your team is in it and you have cash on hand, I say go for it,” Sestok says.

Key takeaways

Enjoy within your means. You don’t need a match ticket to enjoy a major event.

Like Vickers, fans can attend watch parties, fan zones and local bars to experience the atmosphere, excitement and sense of community around big sporting moments.

Don’t force it if the budget is too tight. A trip that only works financially if everything goes perfectly may be too risky.

Build in room for unexpected costs.

Protect your future finances. Spending on meaningful experiences is fine, but it should fit your budget and not damage your future finances.

To do this, it’s best to have a six-month emergency fund.