A Chinese football fan takes a photograph in front of Singaporean goalkeeper Hassan Sunny's food stall in Singapore, on June 14, 2024. Chinese football fans have poured their love into Sunny's food stall after his performance in a game this week indirectly helped China advance to the third qualifying round for the World Cup in 2026. — AP
Chinese football fans have poured their love – and money – into a Singaporean goalkeeper’s food stall after his performance in a game this week indirectly helped China advance to the third qualifying round for the World Cup in 2026.
Hassan Sunny, a 40-year-old goalkeeper on the national team, became an overnight celebrity on Chinese social media after Singapore’s 3-1 loss to Thailand on June 11. China would have been eliminated if Thailand had won by three goals. Sunny made enough saves to prevent that from happening.
