As the 2026 World Cup approaches, a new study reveals the extraordinary confidence and superstitions of football fans. One in three fans believe they could score the winning penalty in a global tournament shoot-out.
Research of 2,000 fans found that 21% think they could “give the keeper the eyes” and trick them into diving the wrong way. What’s more, 42% reckon they could select a better squad than their nation’s manager, and 18% think they have the audacity to pull off a “tactical foul”.
One in six (16%) believe they would save at least one spot-kick if they donned the gloves, while 14% back themselves to score at least one goal if they replaced the captain for the entire tournament.
With the World Cup kicking off today (June 11), 49% of England supporters believe this will be the first time in 60 years they lift the trophy.
The research was commissioned by Betfred to launch its “We the Believers” campaign ahead of the upcoming tournament. The brand’s founder, Fred Done, said: “When it comes to football, us Brits don’t just watch it — we live every single second. We’re believers, and nearly half of England fans are certain that 2026 is the year the lads finally bring that trophy home.”
The study also found that, when asked what they would sacrifice if it guaranteed a win, 20% would give up alcohol for an entire year, while 14% would go on holiday with their in-laws for a month.
One in five (20%) have lucky rituals or superstitions when watching the footie, including wearing the same kit for every match (47%) and sitting in the same spot when the game is on (36%). More than a quarter (26%) would leave the room when a match is on, in case it jinxed the result.
Meanwhile, 67% reckon they could have made a better decision than the manager during play. When it comes to tactics and substitutions, 20% believe they could change the outcome of a football game. Almost three quarters (74%) admitted they shout instructions at the TV, as if the players or referees could hear them.
Some genuinely believed they could influence the outcome on the pitch by looking away from the screen during a crucial penalty (23%), while 19% have refused to go to the toilet.
Compared to other sports, 53% said football made them feel more hopeful, according to OnePoll.com figures. The unpredictability of the game was cited as what makes it feel more emotionally intense than other sports (53%), along with the atmosphere from fans (50%) and last-minute drama (48%).
Meanwhile, 78% said that if their team won a high-stakes tournament, it would boost their real-life happiness and productivity. And 38% believe their pre-match score predictions are accurate.
Fred Done added: “Our research shows what I’ve seen across the counter for decades: football makes people believe. You’ve got armchair managers who genuinely reckon they could do a better job than the gaffer, and folk kicking their own families out of the living room just to avoid a jinx. It’s madness, superstition and pure, blind hope. But when the tournament kicks off, total strangers become best mates, and everyone forgets the real world for a bit — because we’re all chasing the exact same dream.”
