England Fan, 62, to Sell UK Home for $465K to Fund 10th World Cup Journey

Andy Milne, a 62-year-old retired teacher from England, is preparing to auction his second home in northern England for £350,000 ($465,000) to finance his tenth World Cup appearance. The lifelong England supporter, who has become a cult figure among Three Lions fans for his replica World Cup trophy displays, plans to attend every match of the expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada this summer. Milne, who has lived in Thailand for years and rented out the property for 27 years, told The Mirror: “It felt like the right time to cash in.” He will arrive in the U.S. on June 3 for a seven-week stay, following England through matches against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, Ghana in Foxborough on June 23, and Panama in New Jersey on June 27. FIFA’s ticket pricing—ranging from $140 for group-stage games to $8,680 for the final—has drawn sharp criticism from fan groups, who labeled the structure a “monumental betrayal.” The governing body later offered some $60 seats in response to backlash.

Words by Donovan Trent (Global Sports Analytics Director).