Singapore's Goalie Marvel and China's Soccer Miracle: Fans Flood Food Stall with Love

Hassan Sunny, a 40-year-old Singaporean goalkeeper, became an overnight celebrity in China after his performance in a match indirectly helped China's team advance to the World Cup qualifiers. Following this, Chinese soccer fans have been avidly supporting his food stand in Singapore, both in person and through online payments.

In an unexpected turn of events, a Singaporean goalkeeper became the toast of Chinese soccer fans this week. Hassan Sunny's stellar performance helped China advance to the third qualifying round of the World Cup in 2026, albeit through an indirect route.

Sunny, a 40-year-old veteran, played a crucial role in Singapore's 3-1 loss to Thailand, making enough saves to thwart Thailand’s chances of a three-goal victory, which would have ousted China from the qualifiers. As a result, he quickly became a sensation on Chinese social media.

Support has poured in for Sunny from Chinese fans who have been both physically queuing up at his food stall in Singapore and sending money through online payment methods. His stall, Dapur Hassan, skyrocketed to the top spot on Dianping, a Chinese restaurant review app, thanks to the newfound fame.