Jewison Bennette is looking forward to testing himself against some of the best footballers in the world next week. The Costa Rican youngster has been called up to represent his country in Qatar, at just 18-years-old.
The Black Cats youngster has had quite the introduction to English football in the few months that he's been on Wearside. He score a late equaliser against Watford and has made nine appearances so far for the Black Cats.
Now, after watching the World Cup as a youngster on TV, Bennette will realise his childhood dream. He told safc.com: "Very happy and very proud. It was a dram I had since I was a child. I used to watch it on the TV and now I have the chance to experience one and I'm very pleased to do it in the best way possible, it's a top-level competition and we have to be ready for what's to come.
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"I hope to improve my game a lot. It's where you realise exactly where your level is at, playing with the best players, who play at the best clubs in the world. So I'm very happy and I'm going to give it my all."
Bennette has been accompanied in England by his father, who offer him guidance and help along the way. He even travelled on the team bus to face Watford.
"Well, my dad has always supported me since I started playing, since I was four-years-old," Bennette said. "He has always guided me, he was a former player, he knows a lot about the sport and he has given me lots of advice.
"When I'm not doing well, he tells me, 'I have to improve in this', 'I have to improve in that' and that's so important to grow as a footballer. And yes, he always comes to every game, whether it's at home or away. He always tries to find a way to come and be there to support me."
The young forward has dropped into the Under-21s on a number of occasions as he looks to acclimatise to English football. However, he's put on record his thanks to his team-mates for helping him settle in.
"I'm very happy," he said. "The players, the area, the people are very friendly. I think that's a very important factor for settling into a new country.
"To be honest, it's not that different. What is different is the culture and having to adapt to this. You arrive in a new place, you don't know many people.
"In Costa Rica you can meet a lot of people because it's where you were born. So that's different. But the people are very nice, friendly and they are always happy to help you to improve every day.
"Yes, that was one of the things that struck me most about this team. I have friendly team-mates and they're very good people. They help you both on and off the pitch, they give you advice and that's essential for growing as a footballer."
Not content with just settling in during his first season, Bennette is confident that Sunderland can compete at the top of the division after the World Cup break. He said: "I feel we are improving well. Thank God.
"I'm working every day to be ready when the manager needs me, to try and earn a place in the team and from there to continue to improve to be ready for everything that's to come.
"I feel that we have a very good team which is good enough to fight and be up there in the league. We are going to work hard for every game to be able to win as many matches as we can to try and get close to the top of the league."
There have been a number of special moments for the youngster since arriving at the Stadium of Light. Supporters have been spotted draped in Costa Rican flags and kits at games throughout the season, but the goal against Watford is a particular highlight for Bennette.
He said: "My favourite, I think was the goal against Watford. It was a very special moment. I think it's one of the best goals I've ever scored. To see how the fans celebrated, because I'd never seen anything like that before and it was very, very emotional.
"There are always big crowds and they always support you, even if the team is maybe not at its best or we lose a game, the fans are always behind you and that's something I really appreciate.
"It makes me very happy, to see that other people can see the effort that you're putting in and the results of your hard work. I think it's very touching to see fans' stories with the Costa Rican flags and the Costa Rica shirts, at the games, at half-time. It's very special to me."
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