England set for child increase as Brits get frisky ready for Three Lions’ World Cup conflict
It was not just Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who scored after Three Lions’ 1am last-16 kick-off was delayed for an hour due to thunderstorms, retail chiefs say
Pregnancy test searches up 114% after delayed World Cup nerve-shredder(Image: Getty Images)
England is set for a ‘little Jose’ baby boom after internet searches for ‘pregnancy tests’ shot up 114% during the Three Lions’ early hours’ World Cup clash with Mexico.
According to Uber Eats – which delivers products for a host of Britain’s top superstores – fans hit the panic button after the scheduled 1am kick-off was delayed an hour due to thunderstorms near the stadium.
That sparked 60 minutes of frantic filling-in by the BBC team presenting the match on TV including host Kelly Cates and pundits Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards and Joe Hart.
The delayed start prompted a host of delivery orders from households across the nation, according to industry magazine Retail Week.
Number one in Uber Eats searches was ‘popcorn’ which shot up 204% compared to the same time the night before.
Energy drinks were also in demand with a 158% rise.
But the third product suddenly in demand in homes across the country was ‘pregnancy tests’. Searches for them exploded 114%.
One retailer said: “Personally I thought the BBC team did a great job of filling in the hour before kick-off. But clearly some people had their minds on other things.
“It looks like it wasn’t just Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who scored that night. It will be interesting to see the long term result of that dramatic night.
“In nine months we might well see a sudden spike in the births. Maybe nurseries will be full of little Joses or baby Camilas.”
Crisps, chocolate and pizzas were also in demand in the early hours – with hash brown, pancake, breakfast muffin, bacon and avocado searches flying in as dawn broke.
Orders of chicken and beef burrito bowls dramatically cropped off as the match unfolded.
Uber Eats’ general manager for grocery and retail in the UK Katie Hunter said: “Major sporting moments always bring out fascinating shifts in how people shop on demand, especially when games span across different time zones.
“From late-night caffeine boosts to early-hours popcorn cravings we’re working round the clock to connect customers with what they need so they can focus on cheering on their team.”
The game was the most watched football match in US TV history – eclipsing the American national team.
More than 44.8m people in the States saw the game – two million more than watched US v Belgium. More than 60m Mexicans tuned in plus 9.1m Brits who managed to stay awake until nearly 4am for the result.
Gabriela Cuevas, head of 2026 FIFA World Cup coordination in Mexico, said it was the country’s most-watched match of the century.
It is not the first baby boom expected to be triggered by World Cup drama..
Bookmakers have predicted Harry will become Britain’s No1 boys’ name in nine months following Captain Kane’s late two goals against DR Congo to produce a come-from-behind victory in the last-32 tie.
And the US city of Boston is braced for a baby boom of wee Jocks in nine months after American women said their ‘faith in men has been restored’ by partying Scotland fans during their campaign.
