UK Football Industry Gains Millions from World Cup Sales and Club Payouts

British pubs saw a surge of about 30 million extra pints during the expanded FIFA World Cup, generating an estimated £150 million in additional sales, according to the British Beer & Pubs Association. The busiest day, England’s match against Mexico, almost doubled usual sales. Major operators such as Stonegate Group reported 12.5 million drinks served across their venues, with the Minories in London topping the list with 10,000 bookings.

Premier League clubs also received compensation from FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme. Payments of roughly £3,750 per player per day were awarded for the period from 25 May to each national team’s final match. Manchester United earned about £1.95 million, placing eighth on the payout list; Liverpool ranked 15th with a similar figure. Other clubs in the top‑20 included Chelsea, Tottenham, Crystal Palace and several continental giants such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich.