A third of football fans reckon they could slot home the winning penalty in a global tournament shoot-out, new research has revealed. In a survey of 2,000 supporters, 21% claimed they could 'give the keeper the eyes' and fool them into diving the wrong way.
The confidence didn't end there either, with 42% certain they would select a superior squad to their nation's manager. And 18% even believe they could execute a 'tactical foul' on an attacker that would still pass as a clean tackle in the referee's view.
One in six (16%) reckon they'd stop at least one spot-kick if they donned the gloves, while 14% back themselves to net at least one goal if they took the captain's armband for the entire tournament.
As the global football tournament draws near, 49% of England supporters are convinced this will mark the first time in 60 years they'll claim the trophy.
The research 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 survey also asked fans what they would sacrifice if it guaranteed victory. One in five (20%) said they'd ditch 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 confessing they have lucky rituals when watching the footie – including donning the same kit for every match (47%) and planting themselves in the same spot when the game is on (36%).
More than a quarter (26%) said they'd vacate the room during a match for fear of jinxing the final result.
Meanwhile, 67% reckon they could have made better calls than the manager during play, and 20% believe switching tactics or making different substitutions would alter the outcome.
Almost three quarters (74%) admitted they bark instructions at the TV as though the players – or the ref – could actually hear them.
Some genuinely believe they can influence proceedings by looking away during a crucial penalty (23%), while 19% have refused to nip 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 charged than other sports (53%), alongside the atmosphere generated by fans (50%) and last-minute drama (48%).
And 78% said if their team won a high-stakes tournament it would give their real-life happiness and productivity a significant boost.
Some 38% also believe their pre-match score predictions are spot on.
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."
