The seven matches of the Argentine National Team in the 2026 World Cup were strongly felt in the wallets and habits of fans. With each advance of the Scaloneta, consumption skyrocketed in delivery, online shopping, and even in travel planning to accompany the team in the final.
The last match against England had a special flavor. In addition to the usual frenzy for the albiceleste, purchases of Diego Maradona jerseys and items referencing sovereignty over the Falkland Islands multiplied. The excitement quickly translated into sales.
According to data from PedidosYa, during the seven matches, food and beverage orders increased by more than 60% on average compared to normal days. The highest peak was before the match against Egypt, with a 115% increase in the four hours prior. The semifinal against England was no exception: between 12 and 16, orders grew by 90%.
Beers, sodas, hamburgers, snacks, and ice creams were the most chosen before the clash with the English. The times changed the preferences: in the afternoon, platters and drinks predominated, while pizzas, empanadas, and more won out during lunches and dinners. In convenience stores, sales of platter products doubled and even tripled in some cases.
The frenzy in e-commerce
The excitement also spilled over into online shopping. Between Monday and Wednesday, more than 10,000 orders on Tiendanube included products with Argentine identity, 15% more than the previous days. Sales of retro items of Diego Maradona and the 86 World Cup grew by 32%, with strong demand for the number 10 jersey and shirts with “The Hand of God.”
“Every time the National Team plays, that emotion finds an outlet in consumption,” highlighted Camila Nasir from Tiendanube. Purchases of Maradona products had a high average ticket and several items per order. Additionally, sales of items related to the Falklands increased by 41%, including shirts, mugs, and pins.
After the final whistle against England, purchases of albiceleste products multiplied by six. Brands from all over the country took advantage of the moment to connect with popular sentiment through e-commerce.
The dream of traveling to the final
Qualification for the final unleashed a true boom in tourism. As soon as the semifinal ended, searches for flights to New York on Despegar increased by 6000% compared to the two weeks prior. Since the quarterfinals, inquiries to the United States on Smiles rose by 28% and continued to climb.
Miami and the airports in New York concentrated the majority of reservations. “When Argentina plays a final, an entire country dreams of being there,” said Paula Cristi from Despegar. Even with short notice, fans showed great interest in following the Scaloneta.
