British Football Fans Would Sacrifice World Cups to End International

British Football Fans Would Sacrifice World Cups to End International Breaks

A new survey of British football fans reveals that many would ditch international tournaments to keep domestic club football running without breaks.

NationPulse Desk

Nov 8, 2026 · 12:41 AM 4 min read

Key takeaways

37% of British football fans would ditch seeing their national team play on the world stage to keep the domestic game running.

40% of fans feel lost and irritable during the international break, according to a poll of 2,000 British football fans commissioned by Snickers.

22% of fans would do the washing up every day for a year to guarantee their team wins the Premier League.

Snickers launched an International Breakvent Calendar featuring 13 windows, partnering with former manager Sean Dyche.

Why British Football Fans Dislike International Breaks

British football fans would happily sacrifice World Cups and European Championships to get rid of the dreaded international breaks, a study finds. With another pause in Premier League football arriving next week, 37% would ditch seeing their national teams play on the world stage to keep the domestic game running. The eternal tug of war between club and country has long defined the sport in the United Kingdom, but modern fixture schedules have pushed many supporters to their limit.

Four in 10, representing 40% of respondents, are lost and irritable during the international break. Meanwhile, 25% feel something is missing from their lives and 21% dread the empty fixture list that halts the domestic momentum. These pauses scatter the calendar multiple times a year, leaving supporters without their usual Saturday afternoon routines and weekly stadium pilgrimages.

How Fans Cope With Empty Fixture Lists

When the Premier League halts for national team fixtures, supporters are forced to find alternative ways to fill their weekends. A quarter of fans, exactly 25%, watch other sports to fight the boredom of a quiet Saturday. Domestic rugby, cricket, or lower-league matches often pick up casual viewers who refuse to tune into international qualifiers.

At the same time, domestic life takes over for households across the country. The poll reveals that 19% of supporters reluctantly spend time with their partner during the break, while 17% resort to cleaning the house out of sheer frustration. More than half, specifically 59%, would pick their club over country in the age-old debate, according to a poll of 2,000 British football fans commissioned by Snickers.

Extreme Sacrifices for Premier League Glory

Club football fans would go to extreme lengths in order for their team to win the Premier League. The survey uncovered a wide range of bizarre and demanding pledges that supporters are willing to make if it guarantees their team lifting the top-flight trophy. More than one in five, or 22%, would do the washing up every day for a year to see their club finish top of the table.

Other domestic sacrifices follow closely behind as fans contemplate the ultimate prize. Figures show that 19% would give up takeaways, 16% would hand over control of the TV remote to their other half, and 12% would shave their heads completely bald. Running a marathon at 11%, sacrificing a summer holiday at 10%, and letting friends choose an embarrassing tattoo at 7% would also be on the agenda if it guaranteed success.

The Full List of Supporter Pledges

The study mapped out a comprehensive ranking of what fans would endure for domestic glory. The complete order of things British football fans would do to guarantee their team wins the Premier League includes:

Do the washing-up every day for a year at 22%
Give up social media for a couple of months at 19%
Give up takeaways for an entire year at 19%
Miss my own birthday celebrations at 17%
Give up coffee for an entire year at 17%
Let my partner control the TV remote for a year at 16%
Sleep outdoors for a night at 15%
Wear my biggest rival's football shirt for an entire day at 14%
Shave my head completely at 12%
Run a marathon at 11%
Sacrifice my summer holiday at 10%
Give up my mobile phone for a month at 10%
Let my mates choose my next haircut at 9%
Sing my biggest rival's club anthem in public at 9%
Let my mates choose an embarrassing tattoo for me at 7%

Snickers Launches International Breakvent Calendar

In response to the collective frustration of supporters, Snickers has launched its International Breakvent Calendar. The product features 13 windows to help fans count down the days until the return of club football. The brand teamed up with former Burnley, Everton, and Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche, who takes on the role of the brand gaffer for the campaign.

Sean Dyche said, "There's nothing quite like the build-up to matchday, the routine, the anticipation and that feeling when your team finally takes to the pitch." Dyche added, "For fans, an international break can make the weekends feel a bit different. Snickers' International Breakvent Calendar gives supporters a fun way to count down to the return. And while you're waiting, it might be worth finding something else to keep you occupied, just don't ask me to recommend cleaning products."

Industry and Brand Perspective

The psychological toll of empty weekends has become a notable talking point for brands looking to engage with sports audiences. Delia Francoise, senior brand manager at Snickers, said, "For football fans, the international break can feel like an eternity." Francoise explained further, "One minute you're living for the weekend, checking the table and cheering on your team, and the next you're staring at an empty fixture list wondering what to do with yourself. That's why we've created our International Breakvent Calendar, to help fans get through those 13 long days until club football is finally back."

Questions and answers

Would British football fans really get rid of the World Cup?

Yes, a study found that 37% of British football fans would sacrifice World Cups and European Championships to keep domestic club football running without international breaks.

What do football fans do during the international break?

Fans cope with the boredom by watching other sports at 25%, spending time with their partner at 19%, or cleaning the house at 17%.

What extreme things would fans do for the Premier League?

Fans would do the washing up daily for a year at 22%, give up takeaways at 19%, hand over the TV remote at 16%, or shave their heads completely at 12% to see their team win the Premier League.

What is the Snickers International Breakvent Calendar?

It is a calendar featuring 13 windows created by Snickers to help football fans count down the days until domestic club football returns, featuring former manager Sean Dyche.