With the 2026 World Cup kicking off next week, investors are eyeing UK-listed companies positioned to capitalise on the surge in consumer spending.
Mexico hosts South Africa in the tournament’s opening game, marking the start of weeks of heightened retail, hospitality, and leisure activity across Britain.
Among the obvious beneficiaries are Diageo, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ITV, and Entain (LSE: ENT), the Ladbrokes owner expected to see a significant spike in gambling activity during the competition.
However, three lesser-discussed FTSE 250 names offer compelling value for investors looking to get ahead of the summer spending wave.
Frasers Group (LSE: FRAS), owner of Sports Direct, is well placed to shift large volumes of England and Scotland shirts as fans gear up for the tournament.
Beyond new kits, Sports Direct has rolled out a range of vintage shirts from previous tournaments, a move that leans into fan nostalgia while remaining affordable for budget-conscious shoppers.
The stock has already climbed 21% since earlier coverage in March, yet still trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of just seven, making it look inexpensive relative to its potential.
Frasers has also spent recent years accumulating significant stakes in brands including ASOS, Boohoo, Puma, and Hugo Boss, suggesting longer-term value could yet be unlocked through those positions.
Risks remain, including subdued consumer confidence, sticky inflation, and rising youth unemployment, all of which could weigh on discretionary spending this summer.
J D Wetherspoon (LSE: JDW) is the second stock worth considering, with most of its pubs confirmed to be showing World Cup matches throughout the competition.
The pub chain’s famously low drink prices are likely to draw large crowds of fans, both young and old, looking for an affordable place to watch the games.
Even supporters who head elsewhere for kick-off are likely to pass through a Wetherspoon’s beforehand, and the group plans to serve food until 11pm and offer drinks from competing nations.
Wetherspoon shares trade at around 12 times forward earnings and carry a 1.9% dividend yield, providing a reasonable entry point for investors comfortable with ongoing regulatory and tax risks facing the pub sector.
The third pick is Domino’s Pizza (LSE: DOM), which holds the exclusive master franchise for the brand across the UK and Ireland and reported like-for-like growth of 4.5% in Q1, its strongest performance in 11 quarters.
With England and Scotland fixtures scheduled for evening kick-offs, demand for home delivery pizza during matches is expected to remain solid, though competition in the food delivery space is intense.
The most compelling aspect of the Domino’s investment case is its 6.1% forecast dividend yield, offering investors a meaningful level of potential passive income alongside any World Cup-related sales uplift.
