The World Cup could deliver a £7.6bn boost to the UK economy, according to new analysis by money.co.uk, as fans flock to pubs, travel and spend more on food and entertainment. The biggest beneficiaries are expected to be hospitality businesses, with food and beverage companies forecast to enjoy a £4.2bn revenue boost, a 9.3% increase compared with a typical summer.
Accommodation providers could see a 25.2% rise in spending, generating an additional £3.5bn, while rail and transport operators may benefit from a £1.8bn uplift. Sports and recreation businesses are forecast to gain £3.1bn. The boost comes as official figures show the UK economy contracted by 0.1% in April, with rising energy costs weighing on household finances.
However, economists warn that the tournament could also trigger a sharp fall in workplace productivity. A survey by Allsopp's found that one in five Britons – nearly 6.9 million workers – plans to pull a 'sickie' after at least one match, potentially costing the economy £2.4bn. If England progress deep into the tournament, repeated absences could cost up to £16.9bn.
Remote working may compound the problem, with more than a third of respondents planning to work from home rather than take annual leave. VoucherCodes estimated that post-match absences and reduced productivity could wipe out 2.5 million working days and cost £875m. Nearly half of workers aged 25-34 admitted they would call in sick due to a hangover after late-night matches.
The tournament's timing, with late-night kick-offs due to being hosted in North America, increases the likelihood of tired workers arriving late or missing work. For pubs, however, those late kick-offs are expected to be a boon. The British Beer and Pub Association estimates that if England reach the final, an additional 55 million pints could be sold.
Research from Opinium suggests football fans could spend an extra £600m in pubs, with younger consumers driving much of the increase. Nearly three in five Gen Z adults expect to watch matches in pubs, compared with less than a third overall. Jamie Allsopp of Allsopp's Brewery said the tournament would provide a lifeline for venues struggling with rising costs.
