Tour Summary
China is calling. The Socceroos travel to China in March for a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match. With direct qualification in the balance this match is sure to be another epic instalment in the history of Australia’s FIFA World Cup qualifications. The Socceroos are going to need our support, and you are invited to join the GGArmy in China combining supporting the Socceroos on the away terrace with some sensational Shanghai tourism highlights.
It is anticipated that the match is to be played in Hangzhou (a 1-hour fast train from Shanghai) on 25 March. This tour is fully escorted by experienced GGArmy staff, local guides and includes 4 nights in Shanghai and 1 night in Hangzhou, 4-star accommodation with breakfast, welcome dinner event, 2 day tours (including lunch), pre-match party, match ticket guarantee, all transfers (luxury bus and fast train), stadium parking and much more….

Package Inclusions
5 nights premium 4 star hotel accommodation at the Golden Tulip Bund New Asia (Shanghai) & Sofitel Ying Guan (Hangzhou)
Fully escorted by experienced Tour Leader/Guides
All ground transportation (a mix of luxury bus & fast train)
Traditional Tour Welcome Dinner/Drinks Event
1 Exclusive Pre-Match Socceroos Party (including food, alcohol & entertainment)
2 Shanghai Day Tours (The Bund/Yuyuan Garden/Wukang Road/Propaganda Museum/Shanghai Tower/Nanjing Road)
Match Ticket Guarantee*
Best of all, a group of passionate Socceroos fans to share the experience with
*Due to restrictions on the sale of tickets to the FIFA World Cup Qualification matches GGA is not able to bundle match tickets with our travel packages. Currently ticket information and pricing is not released by the Chinese FA. However, we guarantee we will facilitate access to match tickets for all participants and will guide the purchase of tour participant match tickets to complement our tour program.
Pricing
Full payment is due immediately upon booking.
Guests who have travelled with GGA previously enjoy a Loyalty Discount of $150
Solo Traveller Match Program: we’ll match you with a person of similar age and gender to room share to keep the price down. Twin share pricing applies. 25% of our travellers did this for 2022 Qatar and 2019 France and it was a highly successful program. You can select this option during the booking process.
International Flights are not included in the package price and are to be arranged independently at an additional cost. Need help with your flights? Contact us worldcup@ggarmy.com and we can assist.
Macro Itinerary
The tour itinerary has been designed to seamlessly blend football, culture, tourism highlights and social activities. We understand football is the primary reason you are on tour and plenty of time has been scheduled for you to explore Shanghai and Hangzhou under your own steam or take some time out.
SATURDAY 22 MARCH
Arrive in Shanghai, where our staff will be waiting to greet guests who have pre-arranged hotel transfers. After settling into the tour hotel (Golden Tulip Bund New Asia), a late afternoon tour briefing will be undertaken followed by a guided familiarisation tour of the local neighbourhood including an informal group dinner at one of the many local eateries. This is a perfect way to be introduced to Shanghai which blends 21st Century architecture with old-world character. Shanghai is a vibrant city known for bright lights, fevered trade, and frenetic pace.
SUNDAY 23 MARCH
Our local Shanghai Guide will lead a walking tour that will take tour participants back in time. At the Bund we will get a taste of 1920’s Shanghai: its spectacular array of Art Deco buildings line what was once the most important financial street in Asia. Then we visit the traditional Yuyuan Garden (built in 1559) and is famous for its rock formations, natural features, and traditional architecture. Lunch is provided and we will enjoy – Xiaolongbao (steamed soup buns). After lunch we will meander the narrow winding lanes (Nongtangs) at Wukang Road of Old Shanghai, where we will get a glimpse of local life. Then onto the European-influenced French Concession. After a break at the hotel, we will enjoy the Official Tour Welcome Dinner including authentic Shanghai cuisine and entertainment.
MONDAY 24 MARCH
We start with a visit to Shanghai Propaganda Poster Museum. A small and fascinating museum located in a residential building, showcasing over 5,000 propaganda posters from the 1940’s to 70’s. We then travel by private bus to Lujiazui Business District in Pudong across Huangpu River. This is the heart of Shanghai’s financial district. We will visit the 118th floor at the Observation Deck of Shanghai Tower (tallest building in China and 2nd tallest in the world). We enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and then onto Nanjing Road, which dates to the 19th century and was originally a horse racing track during the British concession period. We then visit the “so called” world’s largest food store – Shanghai First Food Store, which was established in 1954. The evening is free to explore Shanghai under your own steam.
TUESDAY 25 MARCH – MATCH DAY: CHINA v AUSTRALIA
We will leave Shanghai on a bullet train to Hangzhou around noon. After checking into the tour hotel (Sofitel Ying Guan) we will prepare for the match with a traditional GGArmy pre-match party (including dinner and alcohol) before transferring to the Stadium for the match.
WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH
After a free morning to rest after a late night enjoying another Socceroos win, we return to Shanghai by bullet train. After checking into the tour hotel (Golden Tulip Bund New Asia) the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to explore more of Shanghai.
THURSDAY 27 MARCH
Departure day! Unfortunately, it is time to leave our tour and continue your onward travels or return to Australia. Those guests who have pre-arranged airport transfers will depart from the hotel for the airport in time to catch flights.




What you can expect to experience travelling with Green & Gold Army
2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar
2018 FIFA World Cup Qatar
Testimonials
Having never been to a World Cup before, Green & Gold Army made it very easy for me- from their information sessions, the booking of the trip, and knowing everything was taken care of for me, including my safety: all I had to do was show up and have fun!
The experiences at and outside of the games were just amazing, and the people I met have become part of my “football” family. I cannot speak highly enough of Green & Gold Army.
Amanda Szalek
We have attended 3 World Cups (South Africa, Brazil & Russia), 1 Women’s Asia Cup (Jordan) and numerous World Cup Qualifiers with the GGArmy. The tours were expertly organised and planned. The organisers faced challenges with transport in South Africa, something they addressed for the Brazil program which was first class. We have shared many happy and memorable experiences with our fellow GGArmy supporters, and our safety was of paramount importance to the organisers, something that was important to us attending FIFA World Cups in South Africa, Brazil & Russia. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend travelling with the GGArmy on any of their tours.
Joy & Merv Fiedler
The atmosphere of the GGArmy 2018 Russia tour was fantastic. The fine detail in the program as organised for us by the GGArmy was amazing and played a big part in the success of the tour. I loved the peace of mind that everything was organised for us. It was awesome and a great thing to be a part of. Many thanks to all the GGArmy tour leaders for the hard work they put in to make every part of the trip seamless for the guests. Nothing was too hard for them!
Emily & Ben Forner
In life you often get lucky. I have been fortunate to be invited to be a host/guide for the GGArmy at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, 2017 FIFA WCQ tour to Japan and 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. They have been the most magnificent experiences. The friendships I have made will last a lifetime. No doubt about it.
However, the one item that stands out the most is the care and thought invested into the tour organisation by the GGArmy leadership. They are football fans united in a passion for the Socceroos and Matildas who direct that energy into the research and planning of their tour programs. The GGArmy leaves no stone unturned in the planning of the program. They deliver quality every time. Bring on the next adventure.