Santander has issued a £630 alert for customers ahead of next Thursday, when the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off. The bank, one of the UK's largest, has found that customers watching all eight games from the UK could fork out on average £630 when eating and drinking out.
Breakdown of costs
Football fans are expected to shell out more than £400 on eating out and over £200 on takeaways over the course of the tournament, according to Santander, which has branches in Birmingham. An additional £200 will be spent on taxis and nearly £240 on petrol or EV charging to get to and from viewing venues.
Hosting and spending
Three in four fans plan to host friends or family throughout the five weeks of matches, with over half expecting to spend more if the country they are supporting performs well. England and Scotland are both in the tournament, which spans a month and is being held across North America, including the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Gerry Davies, Payments Commercial Director at Santander UK, said: “Football has a unique ability to bring people together, and this summer’s tournament looks set to be no different. Whether fans are watching from the stands or hosting friends at home, many will be spending more to make the experience one to remember.
“For those following every group match, costs could top £230 before the knockout stages even begin, and the further their team progresses, the more fans are looking to spend. Our new Santander Rewards Credit Card has been designed to help customers get more from the money they are already planning to spend, with 3% cashback on everyday travel, eating out and takeaways. So, whatever happens on the pitch, customers can still get something back from the moments they enjoy most.”
