China’s ‘super apps’, visa-free travel help send high fives – and cash – to Singapore goalie
- A Muslim food stall owned by footballer Hassan Sunny is inundated with gracious Chinese fans who also took advantage of a new visa-free-travel policy with Singapore
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World Cup: China social media lauds new Singapore ‘heroes’ valiant for keeping Chinese dream alive
It’s not just a Singapore football goalkeeper’s food stall that is getting a surge in Chinese business this week after his quick hands helped keep China in contention for a World Cup bid.
Chinese mobile-payment services are also scoring their own goals as fans from China clamour for orders at Hassan Sunny’s small shop, called Dapur Hassan, or make donations from China to show their appreciation.
At the same time, in-person trips endorse Singapore’s four-month-old visa-free travel rules for Chinese nationals – a measure taken to restore commerce post-pandemic.
“I’d like to go to Singapore to look around and not just because of this goalkeeper,” said China football team fan and university student Mike Yeung, 24, of Guangdong province. “I’ve never been before. It’s quite convenient with the payment platforms.”
Chinese football fans flooded social media with praise and adulation for the goalie after hard-fought matches on Tuesday night. Despite losing 1-0 to South Korea in the Seoul World Cup Stadium, China made it through to the next round in the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifiers because Thailand failed to beat Singapore at home by three goals.
