YOUNG footballer Nate Pinglo-James has just enjoyed the trip of a lifetime – watching six matches live at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But it’s not the first time the 12-year-old Ross Juniors lad has been the envy of his team and school mates – he also saw three games at the last World Cup in Russia in 2018.

Liverpool fan Nate’s Peru-based dad Mario secured the tickets for the duo to watch the action pitch-side in Qatar, and the youngster admits “I’m so lucky”.

And football mad Nate, who has played with Juniors for more than five years, took the chance to represent them at the giant football festival by wearing the Ross shirt and wrapping himself in the club flag.

“I took the flag and displayed it which felt really special, representing your club from back home,” he said.

“One local guy came up and was asking me all about it and where I came from. I’m proud of my club, and my mates thought it was pretty cool.

“The World Cup trip was a great experience and my friends are all pretty jealous.

“We crammed in six matches in nine days and visits to the Fan Zone to watch other matches on the giant screen which was amazing, meeting supporters from around the world with football kick-arounds and brilliant gaming.

“We saw Saudi Arabia v Mexico, Serbia v Switzerland, Netherlands v USA, Japan v Croatia, Morocco v Spain and England v Senegal, which we won 3-0.

“The Senegal fans were amazing, they were so excited to get to the knock-out stages, they were banging drums from start to finish without stopping, and after the game I got a great photo with one who I saw wearing a Liverpool shirt.

“It was fantastic to meet all these fans from around the world, and if I had to pick one group I’d say the Saudi Arabians were my favourites. They were really friendly,” added Nate.

“The World Cup is just once every four years and I was so lucky to be there. The atmosphere was brilliant and everyone was celebrating.

“When we watched England, I was singing all the songs and cheering like mad when we scored.

“I’m very lucky to have been given such an amazing experience by my dad. And I got to pose for a picture with a giant World Cup outside the stadium, which was brilliant.”

Nate, whose favourite player is Jude Bellingham, plays for Juniors’ U13s and after promotion last year they are doing well, with a trip to Ewyas Harold up next this weekend.

Finance director mum Amelia James said: “He’s been playing with Juniors since he was five or six, and has come through with a great group of mates.

“He had to take a few days off school to go to the World Cup, but they realised what an opportunity it was for him, something you really can’t miss.”

And what about a hat-trick of World Cup ‘appearances’ in four years’ time?

Well with his Dad living in Peru and the event in Mexico, the US and Canada, who’d bet against it!