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DENPASAR, BALI – The excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup is not only felt on television screens, in public viewing areas, or across social media platforms, but it also brings life to the small-scale economy in the corners of Denpasar City, Bali.

Amid the global football frenzy, a seasonal flag vendor named Yudi Kusdiana, aged 52, pins his hopes on the colourful flags of participating nations.

From the sidewalks of Jalan Teuku Umar to his dream of sending his children to school, the World Cup for this man from Bandung represents more than just a four-year sporting event—it is an opportunity to earn a living and keep his family's hopes burning bright.

Even though by midday he had sold only one flag, Yudi’s spirit remains unbroken in his effort to support his family.

For more than ten days, he has stood on that pavement, trying his luck selling flags of the World Cup nations.

For Yudi, the world’s biggest football festival is not just about match scores or which team will lift the trophy.

The four-yearly tournament serves as a lifeline for his household back home, where his three children rely on his efforts.

“I live in Bandung, I only come to Bali seasonally,” Yudi told Tribun Bali at his roadside stall.

“Every four years during the World Cup, I definitely come here to sell,” added the father of three.

Yudi finds the current World Cup edition far more favourable compared to 2022, when the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic still weighed heavily on the economy.

At that time, he struggled even to feed himself while away from home, let alone send money back to his family.

Fortunately, this year’s football fever has returned with full force, bringing renewed blessings for small traders like him.

“In 2022, it was really bad. Even getting food every day was hard. But now, thank God, it’s much better—I can send some money back home and still manage to eat here,” Yudi explained.

Yudi is not alone in this venture.

He travels with a group from Bandung under a supervisor who provides the flags as capital and covers their accommodation expenses while in Bali.

While Yudi operates on Jalan Teuku Umar, some of his colleagues sell in other busy areas, such as Gatot Subroto Street.

The system is profit-sharing—Yudi earns from the price difference between the wholesale and retail sales of the flags.

He opens his stall daily from nine in the morning until six in the evening.

The flags are priced differently depending on their size, ranging from Rp70,000 to Rp130,000.

Among the many flags he displays, three countries’ flags are the most sought after by Denpasar residents.

“The most popular ones here are Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina. Not all countries are printed, only about 12 favourite teams plus the host nation,” said Yudi while showing the flags.

“On a good day, I can sell up to ten flags, both large and small,” he added.

When asked about his personal favourite team, Yudi’s face lit up with a broad smile.

The middle-aged man proudly declared himself a loyal supporter of the Tango team, a passion rooted in his admiration for football legend Diego Maradona.

“Of course, I support Argentina. I’ve loved them since Maradona’s era,” he said with a hearty laugh.

Interestingly, Yudi walks with a limp around his stall. He shared that he had once been a victim of a traffic accident.

Before turning to this seasonal trade, he had worked as a factory labourer at PT Kahatex, a well-known textile company in Bandung.

The injuries from that accident forced Yudi to leave his job and take up street vending to provide for his family.

“Before the accident, I used to work in the textile section at PT Kahatex,” Yudi said, pointing to his injured hand.

“After the crash, I started selling flags with a friend’s help,” he continued.

Despite his physical limitations and the hardship of moving from one pavement to another, Yudi’s sacrifices have not been in vain.

Through his earnings from selling flags, he managed to send his second child to college at Padjadjaran University (Unpad) in Bandung.

His child, who excels in academics, earned a place in the Russian Literature programme through a scholarship.

This achievement fuels Yudi’s determination to keep working hard despite the challenges he faces on the streets of Denpasar.

“My second child studies Russian Literature at Unpad. Luckily, it’s under a scholarship, so the tuition fees are reduced,” said Yudi.

“That’s why I push myself to work hard—because my child has great potential,” he added.

Yudi’s journey in Bali is not over yet. Even after the World Cup celebrations end, he doesn’t plan to return to Bandung right away.

With bus fares between Bali and Bandung reaching Rp500,000, Yudi has decided to stay until August to continue selling Indonesian flags for Independence Day celebrations.

“I won’t go home until August—it’s too expensive. Once the World Cup ends, I’ll start selling red-and-white flags for Independence Day here,” he concluded.