Football followers splashing the money for the World Cup – shopping for every part from new TVs to sofas

Nearly 70 percent of fans are planning purchases from new TVs to outdoor equipment and home furnishings to be match ready for kickoff this summer

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Football fans are planning a monster World Cup cash splash – on everything from new TVs to sofas.

Most Brits plan to watch the summer soccer fest from the US, Canada and Mexico from their living rooms or gardens.

And they plan to fork out a fortune getting their gaffs match fit.

Marketing experts have warned brands they should be preparing now to cash in on in-coming football fever with the possibility four nations from GB and Ireland could end up battling for the trophy.

While England and Scotland are already in the Republic of Ireland and Wales or Northern Ireland could join them via qualifiers.

Companies that score with unmissable World Cup offers could recruit new customers for life, boffins say.

Around 69% of fans are planning purchases from new TVs to outdoor equipment and home furnishings before a ball has even been kicked.

That is according to The Match Ready: World Cup Audiences report based on a survey of 1,000 UK consumers from data insight giant Epsilon.

It reveals only half of an estimated 34m audience will be made up of regular fans who watch league matches.

Many only tune in during big events driven by excitement, participation and social value.

Most are already planning to spend more than normal – including buying things they had not planned to – in the run-up to the tournament which kicks off on June 11.

It will be the biggest ever World Cup with an extra 16 teams competing in a record 104 matches – 40 more in 2022.

For the first time mid‑half water breaks will turn matches into four quarters – creating new opportunities for retailers when viewers step away from the telly and onto their phones.

Analysts reckon 69% of viewers will buy new TVs, 18% projectors and 17% smartphones on which to watch the action, check stats or message pals.

Around 8% are planning to invest in firepits or BBQs for outdoor football parties.

Nearly one in five say they will shop or browse online during live games.

There is also a ‘buzz’ between fixtures with fans taking in commentary, build-up and analysis across TV channels including the BBC and ITV (41%), sports channels like Sky and TNT Sports (32%), YouTube (27%) and official apps and websites including FIFA and league/club sites (22%).

Around 71% admit their spending habits are likely to change, with an uplift in snack and soft drink stockpiling when they watch matches at home on their own or with pals.

Experts say that opens up unique opportunities for food brands.

Three in 10 fans say they are likely to choose a brand that launches timely promotions during the World Cup.

Two in 10 believe that influence could extend beyond the tournament.

Even among non-league fans 37% say World Cup activity increases their likelihood of choosing a brand during the competition.

Epsilon director of platform solutions Esme Robinson said: “This is a once-every-four-years opportunity for brands and retailers to reach an audience that is both unusually large and unusually mixed, attracting an equal mix of men and women and across the generations.

“It’s a truly shared experience.

“But it’s crucial they grasp the nuances of individuals who are influenced differently and at different times.

“Treating a World Cup audience as a single group, or assuming it reflects the normal football fan base, risks overlooking the differences.

“By understanding who watches, how they watch, and how this shapes engagement and spending, marketers can plan with precision.

“For those that succeed we see a clear opportunity to treat the world’s biggest sporting event not just as a one-off, but the start of lasting customer relationships.”