Football fans expected to spend thousands to watch World Cup

Football fans expected to spend thousands to watch World Cup

It turns out watching the World Cup from your sofa could cost you a small fortune this summer.

New research from Santander shows British fans are set to spend thousands following the tournament from home this month.

The bank found that the average supporter will shell out around £630 on eating out and drinking across the 104-match competition.

But that’s just the start of it.

World Cup watchers will be spending hundreds on food, drink and taxis this summer

|

GETTY

Brits are also expected to fork out more than £200 on takeaways, with another £200 going on taxis to get them home safely.

Public transport costs will add over £175 to the bill, while kit and decorations could set fans back more than £100.

Remarkably, staying home might actually cost more than flying out to catch an England match in the States.

England fans have been handed a bit of luck with their group stage fixtures.

The Three Lions will play their matches in Dallas, Boston and New Jersey, with two games kicking off at 9pm and the third starting at 10pm – perfectly reasonable times for a summer evening.

Scotland open their World Cup tournament against Haiti at two in the morning

| PA

Scotland supporters haven’t been quite so fortunate, though.

The Tartan Army face some seriously late nights if they want to cheer on their team live.

Their clashes with Morocco and Brazil both start at 11pm, which is manageable enough.

But their opening game against Haiti? That one kicks off at 2am BST.

With matches running from around 8pm through to 4am each day, there’s plenty of opportunity for fans to settle into their local pubs.

The tournament kicks off on Thursday evening when Mexico face South Africa.

The World Cup features an expanded format with 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four | GETTY

Pubs across Britain are hoping the competition provides a welcome boost following the tax increases introduced in last autumn’s Budget.

Santander UK’s Gerry Davies said: “Football has a unique ability to bring people together, and this summer’s tournament looks set to be no different.

“Whether fans are watching from the stands or hosting friends at home, many will be spending more to make the experience one to remember.”

The World Cup takes place in USA, Mexico and Canada this year

| PA

He added: “For those following every group match, costs could top £230 before the knockout stages even begin and the further their team progresses, the more fans are looking to spend.”

So the deeper England and Scotland go, the lighter your wallet becomes.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *