A third of football fans believe they could score the winning penalty in a global tournament shoot-out, new research has found. In a poll of 2,000 supporters, 21% said they could 'give the keeper the eyes' and trick them into diving the wrong way.
The bravado didn’t stop there either, with 42% convinced they would pick a better squad than their nation’s manager. And 18% even reckon they could pull off a 'tactical foul' on an attacker that still gets away as a clean tackle in the referee’s eyes.
One in six (16%) believe they’d save at least one spot-kick if they pulled on the gloves, while 14% back themselves to score at least one goal if they replaced the captain for the entire tournament.
As the global football tournament approaches, 49% of England supporters believe this will be the first time in 60 years they’ll lift the trophy.
The study was commissioned by Betfred to launch its “We the Believers” campaign ahead of the tournament. Betfred 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 poll also asked fans what they would sacrifice if it guaranteed a win. One in five (20%) said they’d give up alcohol for a year, while 14% would even go on holiday with their in-laws for a month.
Superstitions run deep too, with one in five admitting they have lucky rituals 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%) said they’d leave the room during a match in case it jinxed the final result.
Meanwhile, 67% reckon they could have made a better decision than the manager during play, and 20% believe switching tactics or making different substitutions would change the outcome.
Almost three quarters (74%) admitted they shout instructions at the TV as if the players – or the ref – could hear them.
Some genuinely believe they can influence the action by looking away during a crucial penalty (23%), while 19% have refused to go to the toilet at key moments.
Compared to other sports, 53% said football made them feel more hopeful, according to OnePoll.com figures.
The game’s unpredictability was cited as what makes it more emotionally intense than other sports (53%), along with the atmosphere from fans (50%) and last-minute drama (48%).
And 78% said if their team won a high-stakes tournament it would boost their real-life happiness and productivity.
Some 38% also believe their pre-match score predictions are accurate.
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.”
