How winning a ticket lottery is helping two B.C. fans follow team Canada during the World Cup

Local supporters are preparing to head to Houston for Canada's World Cup elimination match against Morocco.

Burnaby resident Walter Siu was at Los Angeles stadium for Canada’s 1-0 victory over South Africa that propelled the team to a World Cup round of 16 match in Houston on Saturday.

As soon as the final whistle blew, he was thinking about going to Texas.

“I was already looking up plane ticket at that point,” said Siu. “I was holding my phone, and I’m looking up what’s the best flight to get there?”

Siu’s World Cup journey will last as long as Canada is in the tournament.

“FIFA, they release supporter’s value tier, which in Canadian dollars is $88 per ticket. And I happened to win the draw for all them in the knockout round. So, I’m actually getting all those tickets—all the way to the final,” said Siu.

He’s not the only one.

Victoria resident Adrian Mohareb also won the Canada Win Red knock out round ticket draw. He was in L.A. for the round of 32, and is heading to Houston for the round of 16.

“And if we keep going, Boston and then Dallas and then Miami or New York. I’ve got flights booked for all of that path, fully refundable flights. I’ve got hotels, but I’ve been trying to manage it so that the hotels would cost less than $200 a night Canadian,” said Mohareb.

Canada fans who don’t already have match tickets will face steep costs if they want to go to Houston.

“I’m on the Voyageurs WhatsApp group, and so many people are saying like, Hey, who is selling tickets? I want to buy tickets.’ And it’s like, there’s nobody selling,” said Mohareb.

While having access to all knockout round tickets has made following Canada more affordable than buying off the resale market, it’s still an expensive endeavour.

“It’s definitely been something that I’ve saved up for,” said Mohareb.

Siu believes the once in a lifetime experience is worth the money. “It’s like memory that’s completely priceless,” he said.

Both superfans know Canada is a big underdog in their match against Morocco.

“I’m going because I’m an optimist, and I just want to be there,” said Mohareb.

“We didn’t do so well last time against them last World Cup, but I think we have a pretty good chance this time. We both got better, but I think we got better a little bit more,” said Siu.

Just in case he will get to keep travelling, he’s already monitoring flights to Boston, where the winner of Saturday’s match will play next.

“If they win,’ I’m booking it in,” he said.