On Aug. 21, he posted on Facebook seeking eight tickets for the final.
He had tried to buy tickets through a banking app but found himself behind 35,000 people in a queue.
He then turned to a Facebook group for ticket trading, only to find that strong demand had pushed resale prices well above their original value.
Official ticket sales opened at 2 p.m. on Aug. 20 and sold out within minutes. Tickets originally priced at VND1.5 million were being resold for around VND3 million (US$115), and VND800,000 tickets were around VND1.5 million.
|
Tom O’Farrell (front) during the 2026 ASEAN Cup semifinal between Vietnam and Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Aug. 19, 2026. Photo courtesy of Tom O’Farrell |
O’Farrell said he was reluctant to buy from unofficial sellers because of the inflated prices and the risk of scams.
Some users have reported sellers requesting upfront bank transfers without providing proof that the tickets were genuine before disappearing.
If the group could not get tickets, they would find a pub in central Hanoi with a large screen and watch the match there, he said.
His appeal has attracted tens of thousands of likes and numerous comments, with some netizens describing it as a “cute ultimatum” and even encouraging ticket holders to give up their seats so that the foreigners could attend.
Some pub owners have also offered to let the group watch the final for free.
The match kicks off at 8 p.m.
Tom O’Farrell’s group cheer for the Vietnamese national team during the 2026 ASEAN Cup semifinal against Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Aug. 19, 2026. Video by Solar Duy Luong.
O’Farrell and his friends earlier drew attention at Vietnam’s semifinal second leg by holding “I Love Vietnam” banners, waving Vietnamese flags, and joining local supporters in cheering for the team.
The British national who has lived in Hanoi for more than five years, came to Vietnam after graduating from university during a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia.
The group regularly attends matches involving Hanoi FC and Cong An Hanoi whenever their schedules allow. During the 2026 ASEAN Cup, they also watched Vietnam’s matches against Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia at My Dinh.
 |
|
Tom O’Farrell (L) and his friends wear headbands supporting Vietnam’s football team. Photo courtesy of Tom O’Farrell |
O’Farrell said his support for Vietnamese football comes from experiencing the atmosphere created by local fans.
“I don’t think my support is any more special than that of any other Vietnamese person. We get swept up in everyone’s passion. When you sense how much the match means to the people in the stands, you want to be a part of it too,” he said.
“No matter what happens, we’ll have a great time. Of course, it would be even better to have seats in the stands at My Dinh,” he added.