England World Cup final run could see Brits spend extra £250m

A run to the Fifa World Cup final could see England fans generate an extra £250m in retail and home-viewing spend.

Data from Novuna Finance shared with City PM suggests that the nation could spend an additional £75m-£150m should Thomas Tuchel’s England side go on a knockout run, while reaching the coveted final – later this month in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium – could see that figure rise to £250m.

The firm’s Theresa Lindsay said England’s success on the pitch could translate into a significant commercial uplift elsewhere.

Special legislation was laid on Friday last week to allow pubs to stay open until 5am on Monday morning as England beat Mexico 3-2 in Mexico City to reach the last eight for a third consecutive World Cup.

The result means a much more hospitality-friendly run to the final, should England get there, with their kick-off against Norway slated for 10pm BST on Saturday before potential semi-final and final appearances at 8pm next week.

The British Beer and Pub Association told City PM last week that an extra one million pints could have been sold after pubs were granted extended licenses. 

And thus far throughout the World Cup English fans have spent an additional £20m at the bar on each of the Three Lions’ matchdays.

That alone could be worth £180m in crucial revenue to pubs and boozers, which have been hounded by recent tax changes made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Budget last year.

The World Cup final is slated for Sunday 19 July, and could coincide with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s final day in post. Since his resignation, the Labour leader has made changes to pub licences during the World Cup and used social media throughout the tournament to engage voters in World Cup fever.

England will take on Norway on Saturday night.