Chinese football fans pour money into food stall run by Singapore’s goalkeeper

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 Tuesday.

China would have been eliminated if Thailand had won by three goals. Sunny made enough saves to prevent that from happening.

Chinese fans have been lining up and buying out all the food at the stand run by Hassan and his wife in Singapore. Those in China have been sending money using the stall’s QR payment code, which has been widely shared online.

Football is one of the most popular spectator sports in China, though the men’s national team has struggled despite investments of millions in the sport.

The team has only reached the World Cup once, more than 20 years ago in 2002.

Cao Zichen, who sent 8.88 Singapore dollars (about €6) to the goalie, said he was touched by the image of Hassan as a down-to-earth worker running a small shop, in contrast to the well-paid players in other countries including China.

Eight is a lucky number in China that conveys wishes for wealth and prosperity.

Some fans described Hassan on social media as the best 12th player on the Chinese team, while a few wondered if he would have tax issues with all the money pouring in.

Others called it rather sad and embarrassing that this is how China advanced, with one saying it shows the Chinese team would rather rely on others than its own players.

Dapur Hassan, the food stand, quickly jumped to number one in the Singaporean snack and food section on Dianping, a