IT’S COMING HOME! ENJOY THE WINTER WORLD CUP WITHOUT BUSTING YOUR BUDGET

The World Cup 2022 kicks-off in Qatar on Sunday 20 November, with both England and Wales’ first games taking place the following day.

With the cost-of-living crisis making flights and ticket prices out of the reach of many, most of us will be watching the 32 teams compete from the drizzly UK rather than the heat of the desert. The winter fixtures mean that backyard bbqs and pub gardens will be less popular this year, too, meaning you’ll have to get creative when it comes to supporting your team! But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the event to the max – after all, it only comes round once every four years.

Here are our quick tips for making the most of the first ever winter World Cup without busting your budget…

Share the hosting

Split the cost of celebrating by taking it in turns to host a World Cup party with your friends, family or neighbours – Come Dine With Me style! Ask each household to pick a different match to host and theme the drinks and snacks according to the countries that are playing – burgers and cokes for USA, burritos and margaritas for Mexico, and beer, chips and mayo for Belgium, for example. For a bit of extra fun, ask your guests to wear clothing that matches the colours of the country’s flag!

Get the kids involved

Many youngsters are already football crazy and will have no trouble getting excited for the upcoming tournament. But keeping their concentration for a full 90 minutes can be tricky, especially for any children who aren’t that keen on the beautiful game. To capture their interest, tap into their competitive spirit and organise some simple games at half time or before kick-off. See who can do the most keepy-uppys, headers or laps of the garden in a minute. Get them to guess how many throw-ins or corners will be taken during each half. Or pick up a World Cup sticker book and encourage them to swap stickers with their friends and see who can complete their collection first.

Visit a fan park

Ok, so with this World Cup taking place in November and December, you might need to wear a few extra layers if you head on down to one of the many fan zones springing up this winter. But as long as the result goes the right way, we bet you’ll barely notice the weather! Check out some of the best mass-viewing parties set to take place across England and Wales.

London

Radio station TalkSport is taking over a huge 1,000-capacity venue under the arches at London Waterloo, where it will screen every World Cup game live – that’s 64 matches in 28 days. For over 18s only, each ticket will be valid for six hours, which will usually cover two World Cup games. The cost is £7.50 including a free pint. Find more information here.

Manchester

Billed as Europe’s largest World Cup fan park, Road to Victory boasts a capacity of over 6,000 and the largest screen in the continent. Taking place at Depot Mayfield, the home of The Warehouse Project, it promises an incredible multi-sensory football experience including a fully immersive light show and pre- and post-match entertainment. Tickets start from £9.50 and are available here.

Newcastle

Central Park, the outdoor beer garden in Times Square, and NX Newcastle will both host England World Cup fan zones. Costing from £10 each, tickets are available from NX Newcastle here or from Central Park here.

Cardiff

Wales fans can experience their team’s vital World Cup games with up 25,000 fellow supporters at the iconic 4theFans Cardiff FanPark. Featuring an interactive show, DJ sets and special effects, best value is the group package – with a 20% discount for 6 or more people, it works out to £16pp including a drink and hot food option. Find out more here.