London pubs are expected to fill with football fans for the first time in the Women’s World Cup on Saturday lunchtime when England take on Colombia for a place in the semi-finals — as Lionesses fever hits new heights.
The later 11.30am kick-off time on a Saturday and the progress of the team after they got through the group of 16 first knockout round with a tense penalty shoot-out win over Nigeria on Monday morning has seen a surge in excitement.
Fans are expected to spend an estimated £145 million this weekend, with six million people forecast to tune in at home, according to savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, with around £116 million being spent on match day essentials such as beer and snacks. As many as 1.9 million supporters are expected to head off to pubs to cheer on the team, spending around £29 million.
Dom Collingwood, founder of the Fanzo platform which allows pubs to advertise when they are showing football, said searches for venues were double those for Monday’s game. He added: “Should Sarina Weigman’s charges make it through to the end of the tournament, Fanzo expect searches for pubs showing a potential England semi-final or final to soar by 400 per cent and by 1,000 per cent respectively. ”
Hundreds of pubs across London will be showing the quarter-final, which is being played in Sydney. Clair Preston-Beer, managing director of Greene King Pubs, said: “Our pubs have such an important role to play in football tournaments. They provide a space for fans to show their support and come together as a community.”
Battle lines have been drawn in a living room in west London where an Anglo-Colombian couple will be watching the game.
Luisa Gonzales is originally from Colombia but now lives in Isleworth with her English partner Jack Collins, and children Antwan, 15, and Selena Rose, aged one.
Ms Gonzales, owner of west London beauty parlour Meraki Aesthetics, told the Standard: “It will be close but Colombia can win. It will be a very tense time in our house. I’m very nervous but we have played well so far.”
Jack, 31, who runs family firm Collins Motors, said: “Whoever wins will have bragging rights, that’s for sure.”
