Dad and son prepare for third World Cup on £8,000 ‘mission’ to Qatar

Todd and Samuel Caffey will complete a hat-trick of World Cups when they fly into Qatar for the 2022 FIFA showpiece (Picture: Todd Caffey)

A sports fanatic and his son are due to fly out on their third World Cup ‘mission’ as they continue to follow the tournament around the globe. 

Todd and Samuel Caffey are jetting 7,400 miles to Qatar in a tradition where the son gives his dad a payment towards their overall travel kitty before every FIFA competition.

They have spent a total of $10,000 (£8,500) on the trip, including accommodation, flights, rental car and 16 tickets, and are visiting all eight stadiums in the emirate.

The duo will see a game every day as they complete their World Cup hat-trick between November 26 and December 3, starting with Mexico vs Argentina at the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium. 

Todd, from Seattle, told Metro.co.uk, that the tradition began in 2010 just before the South Africa instalment when the father-of-three made a light-hearted comment to Samuel, who was 15 at the time, that they would go to Brazil if he saved up enough money.  

Samuel managed to stump up $1,000 after saving up his birthday money and everything else he could to make their 2014 samba trip a reality, and they caught four games at two stadiums. They then ventured halfway across the world to Russia in 2018.

Todd and Samuel Caffey at their last World Cup in Russia where they clocked up 1,500 road miles between games (Picture: Todd Caffey)

‘When Samuel saved up the money I thought, “oh my God, here we go”,’ Todd said. ‘We went to Brazil first and then Samuel saved up three grand for Russia, where we went hardcore, we travelled 1,500 miles by road to six different games in six different stadiums.

‘It’s kind of become a tradition. we don’t call them vacations, we call them missions. Coming from the States and seeing as I’m a high school counsellor, we have to do it on the cheap. It’s get in, get out, with layovers and 30 hours to get there and different plane changes. I don’t have tonnes of money, but the spare money I do have I spend on sports.’ 

The Seattle Sounders fan is among those who are travelling to the FIFA games despite concerns about the treatment of LGBTQ+ people and construction workers in the oil-rich Gulf country. Same-sex relations are punishable with prison sentences under the state’s penal code. 

Todd, who lives in the suburb of Issaquah, said: ‘Those issues are important to me but at the same time I have the mentality that these issues will remain whether I go to the World Cup or not.

‘I don’t feel like it’s my personal responsibility to boycott the World Cup.

‘That might sound insensitive and for those people who do, good for them, and maybe they are better people than me.

‘My mum dates women since my parents divorced and she supports me in everything I do so it hasn’t been an issue for her.’ 

Todd and Samuel get in the samba spirit after donning the iconic yellow team vests and joining the locals in Brazil (Picture: Todd Caffey)

The dad and son have a passion for football which is due to take them to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar (Picture: Todd Caffey)

Todd, 51, and Samuel, 29, are due to watch Argentina twice and have a chance of seeing England or the US in their only round of 16 fixture on the final day of their eight-game itinerary.

They first have to fly from Seattle to Doha via Dallas and London on the lowest-cost round trip they could find.  

This time round, Samuel has put $3,000 into the kitty to ensure the pair are among around 1.2 million visitors expected to descend on the host nation during the competition.  

Todd, who provides emotional and well-being support to students, counts the Seattle Kraken ice hockey team, Sounders FC and the Seahawks American football team among his clutch of season tickets.

His passion for football includes playing soccer as a schoolboy and coaching the game at 9th grade level.

Todd Caffey aged 10 when he used to play in the same league as former US goalkeeper and fellow Washington local Kasey Keller (Picture: Todd Caffey)

‘I’m a school counsellor and I’m an advisor on the Black Student Union right now so culture has always been very important to me,’ he said.

‘I’m a white male and I recognise my privilege and power as a white male so different cultures and backgrounds have always been a love of mine.

‘To see sport and culture come together is just next level, and it doesn’t get any bigger than the World Cup.’ 

England fans are also putting their reservations aside to make the trip to the 22nd World Cup.  

Paul Anthony, who works for an airline in Dubai, told Metro.co.uk he is making the short hop to the games after watching every Three Lions match since childhood. 

The sports-mad duo’s latest adventure will take in all eight stadiums in Qatar with a game every single day of their trip (Picture: Todd Caffey)

Sam Tabuteau, a freelance sports journalist and founding member of the 10Teams World Cup game, summed up the emotions many fans will experience watching from the UK.   

‘There are real mixed emotions going into this World Cup for me, because I know when it comes to it, the occasion will take hold and I’ll be fully engulfed,’ he said. ‘But given the cloud under which the tournament is being held, I can’t help but feel guilty for benefitting both as a journalist and a fan from the whole event.’ 

On Thursday, Gareth Southgate named his 26-man squad for the World Cup, with James Maddison, Ben White and Callum Wilson representing the standout inclusions. 

Qatar and Ecuador are due to clash in the opening match at the 60,000-capacity Al-Bayt a week today. 

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Todd and Samuel Caffey are completing a hat-trick of World Cups with their 7,500-mile trip to Qatar.